1965 4-Speed Shifter Adjustment

[Salvatore I.]

Recently, I had an issue with the alignment of 1-2 gears on my Muncie 4-speed with a great deal of difficulty getting the trans into first gear. I have a 327-350hp motor and the factory Muncie/shifter. Following the usual procedure, I placed the gear shifter in neutral and was able to disconnect the 3 shifter rods on the driver's side of the transmission. I inserted the alignment tool at the base of the shifter and got all three rods to line up and lock in place. I set lever 1-2 and lever 3-4 levers on the transmission to neutral. The reverse lever was left as it was (as I believe it is either in gear or it isn't, if you follow me). All three rods then lined up and I was able to adjust the ends of the rods to lock them in place. Now, all forward gears work smoothly when I shift the car as usual. (I didn't drive the car, I simply ran through the gears without the car running).

However, now I am locked out of reverse. The T-handle goes up and the shifter goes left but will not go over to reverse any longer. Any suggestions on what I did wrong? I retraced my steps and readjusted the reverse rod, but it still will not let me go into reverse. Appreciate any thoughts?
Thanks everyone....

[Patrick H.]

Can you manually shift the transmission into reverse from below, i.e. by moving the lever on the side of the transmission?

Did you test going into reverse when doing the adjustment? I suspect you adjusted far enough that reverse no longer lines up. It doesn't take much.

[Salvatore I.]

Thanks Patrick for your response.

When I disconnected the reverse rod again, I could not slide it toward the front of the car. I didn't want to force it .

what is your recommendation on what I need to do you free up reverse gear?

[Joseph S.]

Salvatore, Try loosening the ball a bit to let the T handle come up higher. The reverse lock out may be hanging you up.

Regards, Joe

[Salvatore I.]

Hey Joe, I did loosen the T-Handle and tried repeatedly to engage reverse. It wouldn't budge. I slipped the shifter into first gear then neutral then tried reverse with no luck.

[Salvatore I.]

What is the correct length of the reverse gear rod? I recall that the rod appeared to be short and when I pulled it forward, the alignment tool seated better and the rod reached the trans reverse lever. But now it is locked out. Could something have slipped in the shifter itself?

[Owen L.]

Have you tried to put it into reverse, with the engine running? Clutch in, 1st gear, clutch out, clutch in, reverse. Sometimes the gears just aren't aligned correctly to mesh into reverse and you need to turn the gears a little (thus the engine running).

If that's not it, I think starting all over again with all of the rods is going to be necessary.

[Salvatore I.]

Thanks Owen...I'll try that in the morning

[Salvatore I.]

I am wondering if I set the reverse lever to the wrong position (not in neutral) when I adjusted the three rods....So, before I do anything that might cause damage to the transmission, how is the reverse lever on the transmission set to neutral: is the lever turned to the front of the car? Or is neutral when the lever is turned to the rear of the car? (I'm concerned that if I start the engine and the lever is not in neutral, the gears will grind as soon as the car is started).......Thoughts everyone?

Also, is it possible for me to have gotten this wrong at all since the reverse rod is not long enough to connect to the reverse lever if is set to be in gear? (I recall having to extend the rod to not only line up with the alignment tool but also reach the reverse lever....It was the only lever that I couldn't tell if the lever was in neutral or not, but it appeared to only be long enough if the lever was set to the position facing the rear of the car....so, is that neutral? Will the lever not "fit" (not be long enough) if the lever is set in gear? In other words, was this designed by GM this way to prevent the gear from grinding or am I over-thinking it?

Just being extra careful before spinning the engine.....

[Tim S.]

When I disconnected the reverse rod again, I could not slide it toward the front of the car. I didn't want to force it .

Are you speaking of the shifter rod, or the arm that bolts to the transmission?

Tim

[Salvatore I.]

Tim:

The arm/lever that bolts to the side of the transmission.

[Tim S.]

Are you speaking of the shifter rod, or the arm that bolts to the transmission?

Tim

If I am understanding you correctly..........the arm is forward in neutral and gets pulled towards the rear of the car to engage reverse. In short, you would not be able to move it forward anymore (assuming the trans is in neutral).

Does that make sense to you? Sorry if I am misinterpreting your writings.

Tim

[Salvatore I.]

Tim, et al:

I went through the entire process of setting each of the three rods using the alignment tool at the base of the shifter again (started from scratch). I got exactly the same result. Could shift into 1-4 smoothly, but could not engage reverse. I removed the t-handle rod and still could not put the car in reverse.

Then I reinstalled the T-handle and put the car into first gear. Released the handbrake and rocked the car forward and backwards. This got it free and the trans went into reverse. I am not exactly sure what the issue was....But it is freed up now and shifts perfectly. Owen, thanks for your suggestion. I then started the car and took a quick drive.

All works perfectly now....I am not exactly sure what the issue was, but rocking the car in gear enabled me to get the car into reverse.

Thanks to all for your suggestions and guidance.

[Owen L.]

Then I reinstalled the T-handle and put the car into first gear. Released the handbrake and rocked the car forward and backwards. This got it free and the trans went into reverse. I am not exactly sure what the issue was....But it is freed up now and shifts perfectly. Owen, thanks for your suggestion. I then started the car and took a quick drive.

All works perfectly now....I am not exactly sure what the issue was, but rocking the car in gear enabled me to get the car into reverse.

Glad it worked out!
The reverse gear does not have a synchro ring so the gear set has to be in a truly neutral position to engage it. By shifting into a forward gear and then trying reverse again, the gear sets move into a new alignment and allow reverse to engage. -- at least that's how I understand it. It's a pretty common occurrence; sometimes reverse will engage with a brief grinding for the same reason.

[Salvatore I.]

Learn something new every day with these cars. I thought rocking the car would permit me to better control the impact on the trans...Thanks again Owen...
Sal