68 M/T won't shift into reverse
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
68 M/T won't shift into reverse
We pulled Liz's 68 vert out of winter storage yesterday.
It shifted into reverse two different times perfectly, then later would not go in. All forward gears work perfectly.
The T handle pulls up fine and allows the shifter to move into the far left gate, but it will not move forward into reverse.
Any ideas on what I should look for when I crawl under there later?
It shifted into reverse two different times perfectly, then later would not go in. All forward gears work perfectly.
The T handle pulls up fine and allows the shifter to move into the far left gate, but it will not move forward into reverse.
Any ideas on what I should look for when I crawl under there later?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
Other than making sure the linkage isn't binding, not much you can do from under the car. You could remove the linkage arm from the trans and use a pair of pliers to put it in reverse manually.(make sure it's in neutral and can't roll of course) If it will go in, start working your way back looking for any interference in the linkage. Unfortunately the reverse gear on the older muncies can(and often do) get chewed up. If part of a tooth broke off and got wedged, that could cause it also. I know it's not much help, but it's something to check.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Not sure about 68', but my 71' has a cable from the steering column to the reverse lever on the trannie. It locks the shifter in reverse when the key is in the lock position. See if it will go into reverse by pulling/pushing the arm on the steering column might need adjustment.
Gary
Gary
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Other than making sure the linkage isn't binding, not much you can do from under the car. You could remove the linkage arm from the trans and use a pair of pliers to put it in reverse manually.(make sure it's in neutral and can't roll of course) If it will go in, start working your way back looking for any interference in the linkage. Unfortunately the reverse gear on the older muncies can(and often do) get chewed up. If part of a tooth broke off and got wedged, that could cause it also. I know it's not much help, but it's something to check.
I'll try disconnecting the rod to the reverse light switch too, but I suspect the problem is inside the transmission in the reverse gear.
Guess I'll have to bring more tools down here and pull the transmission to get it fixed.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: Philmont NY
I had an issue with my original shifter on my 68 (or so I thought)...changed over this past Monday to a hurst shifter and it is still catching once in a while....I got under and moved the lever with a ratchet ...but it still seems to catch once in a while....
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
Did you try rolling it a little and see if it will engage? If you happen to stop at just the right spot, it can be hard to get in gear. ( just a shot in the dark). Like h2ohouse said, they can get grumpy every now and then.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,804
Likes: 4
From: Standing still with all my might Texas
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
It's going back into storage until I can get back down here with some more tools (mainly jack stands that don't scare the hell out of me).
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
Absolutely.....can't be too safe when it comes to working under a car.
If you get all four wheels off the ground it will make it easier to see if turning the wheels a little will get it to go in gear, or if you can hear any "strange" sounds coming from the housing.
If you get all four wheels off the ground it will make it easier to see if turning the wheels a little will get it to go in gear, or if you can hear any "strange" sounds coming from the housing.
