early 60's 3 speed problem

I have a 63 Bel Air with a manual 3 speed on the column. In the wintertime it gets difficult to cross the "H" when going between reverse/first to second/third and back. During the summer the car shifts fine. The difficulty definitely has something to do with the weather. Is this a problem with the fluid in the tranny? How can I make it travel across easier?

btw: I live in Kansas, so it never drops below -5 degrees if that helps.

 

Yup, probably a steering column problem, I'd take the column apart and clean, lube and adjust the mechanism. Although most guys seem to be scared of taking columns apart. It would help to have the shop manual.

 

When ypu pull or push the shift lever you are moving a tube inside the column. Needs to be taken apart and cleaned and lubed like squirrel said. Probably just gumed up from years of use. Dennis

 

Might be able to use some "Jesus in the Can" on that column?

 

The sliding parts are way inside, not where you can squirt them.

 

Best oil for manuals is Red Line MTL. It's light and makes shifting so smoooth. No reports or any failures running big power - excellent lube. BMW guys been doing it for years to get their sticks to shift in the winter. Once you try it, you will not go back

 

Your problem is not in the transmission, its the shifter. Spray some penetrating oil in every opening you can find around the levers and in the column where the stick comes out of it.

 

Move to Arizona or Florida
just my 3.5 cents
ha ha ha

 

what I use to do was Warm up the Car real good!
before I wood Drive it
or Change the Tranny Fluid to a Lighter Weight for Winter
and back in the Summmer
Just my 3.5 cents