Johnny 66

Just went down to the garage to get the car running. 1966 300-327 4-speed. Have to admit, I hadn't even started it in about a year. Drove fine when I put it away.

Got it running just fine, but could not get it in reverse to back out of garage. There was some slop in the frame-side mount in the z-bar or bellcrank, tightened that up but no fix. Looking underneath while my 11 year old was pushing in the clutch, looks like the fork is coming back as far as it can, basically making contact with the back of the opening in the side of the transmission.

Can not get car in gear when running, and if put in gear and then try to start, it will lurch when trying to start.

Time for a new clutch? Appreciate any comments. (Yes, I know, I need to drive it more often!!)

pop23235

It's likely just surface rusted together. Keep trying by letting the engine run. The heat cycle and the rotation may work it loose. If that fails, it would be good to have the tires off the ground and place in gear and run for a while or, if you have a safe area, just drive it a bit. I would not advise on the public highways. So, to stop, remember to kill the engine/switch. Most will usually break loose.

GTOguy

What Pop said. I've broken them loose several times simply by putting the car in gear with the engine off, pushing in the clutch, and with my foot on the brake and both ends of the car clear and not pointed at walls, people, etc, hit the ignition. It will break loose and be fine.

Vette5311

Frankie the Fink

Powershift

x2. I would recommend 4th gear. Engine warmed up. Parking break also "on". It may take a few times with the starter, but it will break free. Done it many times here in wet/humid SE Louisiana.

Recently I had that issue, but rather than use the starter, I just pushed the car. Engine off, no breaks on, car in 4th gear. I would recommend having someone light in the car pushing in the clutch.............but believe it or not, I actually got the same result with no one in the car. Just me pushing and rocking the car. At age 71+ ( and in the heat of the day) it did tire me a bit, but I got it done without using the starter. Less wear and tear on the starter and engine block. It just takes a little bit of movement on the disc on the flywheel/pressure plate to free it up. Having a standard type clutch probably helped as it had to slip a bit to get the disc movement. In my case, the adhesion between clutch disc and flywheel was probably not great (just lucky that day). But using the starter WILL get it done.

This can also be done by starting the car in gear (1st) and then with the clutch pushed in, rev the engine and accelerate and decelerate a bit to also free it up. This requires some straight road and a bit of courage (or perhaps foolishness). But it also works and is effective.

Once you are successful, drive the car more often so it does not happen again. I try...........but occasionally fail.

Larry

Johnny 66

Guys, thanks for the inputs! Worked like a champ!

I rolled the car back in the garage to the door, and put it in 2nd gear and when I tried to start it, it lunged for just a second, and then fired right up!!

Couple laps around the black and she is purring like a kitten!!

I promise I will try to driver her more often!!

Thanks!! John

Frankie the Fink

Also if you're going to park it for long periods; leave the parking brake off and just chock the wheels...it can save you some trouble; prob more important with drum brakes but something to consider..

ejboyd5

For storage, you can also block the clutch pedal so that the contact surfaces of the clutch are slightly separated.