Shifter issues - original transmission

[Jace H.]

Started my 64 up yesterday and it wouldn't shift into reverse. Pulled of the shifter knob and T-handle (reverse lockout) and noticed that the rod that attaches to the T-handle had come loose and was sitting down in the shifter tube. Got the rod out and secured it to the T-handle and re-assembled. Now the car feels as if it shifts fine but car wont move. Car is in gear as I cant push it but something is amiss with shifter assy? Anyone else experienced this? My experience with a bad clutch is that it doesn't go non functional all at once. Car ran fine and shifted fine before that rod fell off of the T-handle. Thanks in advance.

Jace

[William C.]

Re: Shifter issues - original transmission

Reverse was likely engaged when the shifter was messed up. Go under the car and put all the levers in Neutral, and check the shifter gate for full travel of the lever if OK you should be good to go.

[Jace H.]

Re: Shifter issues - original transmission

Thanks Bill!

[William C.]

Re: Shifter issues - original transmission

OK, you have three levers on the bottom of the shifter, two running foreward to the side cover these shoiuld be straight up when in neutral. The third is a rod that runs back to the tailhousing to engage reverse. That one is your problem, and if the car is blocked so it won't roll you should be able to rotate the shaft on the tailhousing to release reverse. you should be ok from there, but do some inspection to figure out how you got into that situation. I've seen broken welds on the shifter housing and other issues that can affect this issue.

[Gene M.]

Re: Shifter issues - original transmission

Yes, what Bill said. The wear point is the flag extension of the shifter shaft. This is fairly hard (not dead soft steel) so are the shifter sliding sheet metal gates. But they do wear over the years loosing the "shape" for correct engagement. Side to side slop also causes two gates to engage. Broken welds also allow excess slop as Bill indicated. Cleaning, lube and a squeeze in the vise (to remove excess gap) sometimes helps if not too far gone.