73 will not go into reverse
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: benton AR
73 will not go into reverse
I have a 73 and everything was working fine. I recently changed the engine and put another 350 in the car. I cannot get the Muncie 4 speed to shift into reverse unless the car is on jackstands. It has a hurst shifter as well. I changed the motor mounts and transmission mount and I think I just got something out of alignment, but I am a novice when it comes to transmission work and would really like to get this beauty back on the road soon. Please help and pictures are wonderful too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 93
From: Bellmore NY
Is it a factory shifter or a hurst shifter?
Check to see that the bolts holding the shifter tabs on at the transmission side case are tight. Its possible they are loose and causing an issue. After that check and see if anything else is loose or worn in the linkage itself.
Check to see that the bolts holding the shifter tabs on at the transmission side case are tight. Its possible they are loose and causing an issue. After that check and see if anything else is loose or worn in the linkage itself.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: benton AR
Is it a factory shifter or a hurst shifter?
Check to see that the bolts holding the shifter tabs on at the transmission side case are tight. Its possible they are loose and causing an issue. After that check and see if anything else is loose or worn in the linkage itself.
Check to see that the bolts holding the shifter tabs on at the transmission side case are tight. Its possible they are loose and causing an issue. After that check and see if anything else is loose or worn in the linkage itself.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
On the shifter box.....look at the bottom, notice in the center there is a half moon shaped cutout.....when the shift levers are all properly centered in neutral, you can put a round piece of 1/4" diameter Rod into the shifter box through the levers.....this is the starting point for getting the shifter adjusted......have all the shift rods off then make sure all transmission levers are in neutral position and adjust the rods until they fit into the levers. If after adjusting your levers/rods going into reverse is still difficult....you can lengthen the reverse Rod one turn longer and this should get the job done. Munchies are also somewhat difficult to get into reverse....if it's sticky put the Trans into 1st gear then it usually will go right into reverse. Also make sure your clutch is properly disengaging....if it's not.....reverse is the only gear set without synchronizers and would be the first to cause problems.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: benton AR
On the shifter box.....look at the bottom, notice in the center there is a half moon shaped cutout.....when the shift levers are all properly centered in neutral, you can put a round piece of 1/4" diameter Rod into the shifter box through the levers.....this is the starting point for getting the shifter adjusted......have all the shift rods off then make sure all transmission levers are in neutral position and adjust the rods until they fit into the levers. If after adjusting your levers/rods going into reverse is still difficult....you can lengthen the reverse Rod one turn longer and this should get the job done. Munchies are also somewhat difficult to get into reverse....if it's sticky put the Trans into 1st gear then it usually will go right into reverse. Also make sure your clutch is properly disengaging....if it's not.....reverse is the only gear set without synchronizers and would be the first to cause problems.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: benton AR
Thanks for the advice. I Checked everything out and made a couple minor adjustments and now the shifting seems good. A few minor touches yet to come and we will be on the road!
On the shifter box.....look at the bottom, notice in the center there is a half moon shaped cutout.....when the shift levers are all properly centered in neutral, you can put a round piece of 1/4" diameter Rod into the shifter box through the levers.....this is the starting point for getting the shifter adjusted......have all the shift rods off then make sure all transmission levers are in neutral position and adjust the rods until they fit into the levers. If after adjusting your levers/rods going into reverse is still difficult....you can lengthen the reverse Rod one turn longer and this should get the job done. Munchies are also somewhat difficult to get into reverse....if it's sticky put the Trans into 1st gear then it usually will go right into reverse. Also make sure your clutch is properly disengaging....if it's not.....reverse is the only gear set without synchronizers and would be the first to cause problems.
