C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Cant get into reverse

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 7, 2010 | 08:45 PM
  #1  
HT1663WB's Avatar
HT1663WB
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 156
From: Clayton New Jersey
Default Cant get into reverse

I just purchased a 1974 Vette with a 4 speed..I cant get it into reverse. The lock out is down. I thought maybe the spring was missing but it's there. There is no tension on the lock out it's just down..anything I can check? Trans number is 3925661

Thanks, Bill

Last edited by HT1663WB; Oct 7, 2010 at 08:59 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2010 | 09:18 PM
  #2  
BBCorv70's Avatar
BBCorv70
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Default

Originally Posted by HT1663WB
I just purchased a 1974 Vette with a 4 speed..I cant get it into reverse. The lock out is down. I thought maybe the spring was missing but it's there. There is no tension on the lock out it's just down..anything I can check? Trans number is 3925661

Thanks, Bill
Not sure I follow.. Is this a factory shifter? On my 70, I pull UP on the lockout to get into reverse. Down should keep it from going into reverse. Do the forward gears work? Are you able to shift into 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th OK? Just wondering if you may be having a problem with your linkage.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2010 | 09:31 PM
  #3  
HT1663WB's Avatar
HT1663WB
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 156
From: Clayton New Jersey
Default

All forward gears work. had a 77 vette and you could feel the tension when you pulled up to go into reverse. The t handle just flops around there is no tension on it. It is the factory shifter.
Reply
Old Oct 7, 2010 | 11:59 PM
  #4  
oldC3guy's Avatar
oldC3guy
Instructor
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Default

on my '78 L82 I had more or less the same problem. Solution was to tighten up the nuts on the shifter linkage which were loose. It wasn't easy to get a wrench in from underneath but it has helped. Still not perfect but better and I want to get the console open over the winter and tighten everything up more adequately.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2010 | 11:31 AM
  #5  
Paul Ruggeri's Avatar
0Paul Ruggeri
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 3
From: Carmichael ca
Default

Sounds like the spring in your reverse lockout is broken or missing. This won't prevent it from going into reverse though. Sounds like the linkage is out of adjustment. Does it go to the reverse gate?
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2010 | 12:08 PM
  #6  
Faster Rat's Avatar
Faster Rat
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Default

Unscrew the ball, pull the spring and T-handle/rod out of the shifter. With the rod out, you should be able to slide the shifter thru the neutral gate over to reverse. If not, your reverse linkage rod may not be adjusted correctly. Can you unbolt the lever on the tranny shaft and manually shift in and out of reverse? If not, you might have a problem in the tranny. If so, move the reverse rod and line it up in the shifter neutral gate. Will the shifter now go thru the neutral gate and pick up reverse? Now adjust the reverse rod and reconnect to the tranny shaft.

Last edited by Faster Rat; Oct 8, 2010 at 12:11 PM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Cant get into reverse





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:02 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE