Need help with 75 4-speed convertible stuck in reverse
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 215
Likes: 12
From: Conyers Georgia
Need help with 75 4-speed convertible stuck in reverse
I know there is someone out there that can help me. I am not a car mechanic, but I do know my way around tools so I hope this is something I can fix. So far I have redone brakes and fuel pump.
My car is stuck in reverse. I was moving it and had to go back and forth to maneuver it into a position I needed it and it is stuck in reverse. No matter what gear I try to put it into is backs up. The reverse lights are on and it will not go into neutral. When I put it in 1,2 3 or 4th and let off the clutch, it dies.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Hoping to pick up my AIM tomorrow, but not sure it is will help.
My car is stuck in reverse. I was moving it and had to go back and forth to maneuver it into a position I needed it and it is stuck in reverse. No matter what gear I try to put it into is backs up. The reverse lights are on and it will not go into neutral. When I put it in 1,2 3 or 4th and let off the clutch, it dies.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Hoping to pick up my AIM tomorrow, but not sure it is will help.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 7
From: l In
Jack up the car, put shifter in neutral, get under car with box end wrench and put all gears in neutral position. Sounds like it is stuck in 2 gears.
Ask me how I know. Shifter is probably needing rebuilt or replaced.
Ask me how I know. Shifter is probably needing rebuilt or replaced.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
As stated above, you are going to have to jack it up with the shifter in neutral and place the reverse shift lever in the neutral position. I don't agree that the shifter needs rebuilding. The linkage just needs adjusting. When you hit the neutral gate with the shifter it didn't pull the reverse shift lever all the way back and allowed it to pop back in the reverse position when you hit the gate. The rest of your gears still work but you end up stuck in two gears no matter what because you are still in reverse. Adjust the reverse rod length so it pulls the lever all the way out of reverse.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 112
Likes: 8
My 79 did the same thing and the threads on the adjustable linkage were worn out. You're able to shift into other gears but the reverse lever is stuck in reverse because your reverse lights remain lit whatever you do. You can replace the linkage and adjusters or just have the reverse linkage welded but one way or the other you're gonna have to remove it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 215
Likes: 12
From: Conyers Georgia
Thanks everyone for your assistance. I got under the car today and as Phil and CanadaGrant said, I was able to disengage the linkage and put it in neutral and everything worked. I will be updating the shifter linkage and shifter mechanism , but that will be a little later. Next is replacing front sway bar links and bushing. What is the best way to measure the sway bar to see which one you have? Based on what I have seen there are 3 options for 75, 7/8", 1 1/8" or 3/4". Do you measure the diameter? Again, thanks for all the help.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
ditto the same problem
ditto the same problem on my 68 with a Muncie 4sp. Agree you need to adjust the shifter linkage. Might need to rebuild too depending on how much slop or wear you have.
Only thing I would add is if you check out the AIM and look underneath the shifter linkage towards the back you will see slots in each of the arms that need to line up in a row. You can make an alignment bar or tool to fit the slots as per the AIM or I just visually look to see if they are in a row and play with the adjustment until I get smooth shifts. I do not have a 75 AIM, but I think the AIM has a procedure outlined to adjust the linkage (or my 68 does anyway).
Hope this might help.
Only thing I would add is if you check out the AIM and look underneath the shifter linkage towards the back you will see slots in each of the arms that need to line up in a row. You can make an alignment bar or tool to fit the slots as per the AIM or I just visually look to see if they are in a row and play with the adjustment until I get smooth shifts. I do not have a 75 AIM, but I think the AIM has a procedure outlined to adjust the linkage (or my 68 does anyway).
Hope this might help.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
shifter assembly alignment
You would be able to see the slots that you want to line up underneath the Corvette on the back or rear side of the shifter assembly just ahead of the parking brake pulley.
I doubt you could see the slots from above unless you could get a mirror down in there some kind of way.
Here is link to this forum that talks about what this looks like:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...uge-lenth.html
This is in the C1/C2 section but the shifter on my 68 and 76 are the same setup, might be slots instead of grooves, still either way they are cut outs for alignment use.
I made an alignment tool, but found it easier to eyeball the lineup and get it close and then fine tune and play with the adjustment until you get a smooth shift.
Hope this helps.
I doubt you could see the slots from above unless you could get a mirror down in there some kind of way.
Here is link to this forum that talks about what this looks like:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...uge-lenth.html
This is in the C1/C2 section but the shifter on my 68 and 76 are the same setup, might be slots instead of grooves, still either way they are cut outs for alignment use.
I made an alignment tool, but found it easier to eyeball the lineup and get it close and then fine tune and play with the adjustment until you get a smooth shift.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by 20mercury; Nov 13, 2014 at 12:22 AM.