Muncie Problems
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Muncie Problems
I'm finishing a restoration on a 68 327 4 speed for a woman after her ex quit working on the car many years ago. I know he rebuilt the engine, not sure about the transmission.
Anyways, I put a new shifter and linkage in the car and adjusted it according to information I found online. However, when I turned the motor over for the first time it was turning the wheels backwards, even though the shifter was in neutral.
Yesterday I got some time to work on it and tried manually moving the levers to the neutral position (notches on the sides of the shift lever studs facing vertically from what I understand). This made no difference, and if you put the car in a forward gear and try to bump the motor over it is stuck.
Do any of you think that the shift fork might not be in the groove for the reverse gear? I imagine if this is the case I would have to pull the trans and remove the tailshaft. Hopefully it's not too involved, and I'm really hoping I don't have to order any replacement parts just to move the shift fork back into place. Any suggestions would be great.
Anyways, I put a new shifter and linkage in the car and adjusted it according to information I found online. However, when I turned the motor over for the first time it was turning the wheels backwards, even though the shifter was in neutral.
Yesterday I got some time to work on it and tried manually moving the levers to the neutral position (notches on the sides of the shift lever studs facing vertically from what I understand). This made no difference, and if you put the car in a forward gear and try to bump the motor over it is stuck.
Do any of you think that the shift fork might not be in the groove for the reverse gear? I imagine if this is the case I would have to pull the trans and remove the tailshaft. Hopefully it's not too involved, and I'm really hoping I don't have to order any replacement parts just to move the shift fork back into place. Any suggestions would be great.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 332
From: Cartersville GA
I had the same thing happen to me when I installed new linkage on mine....I didn't have enough movement in the reverse shifter rod and it would not come out of reverse. I would take the rod off the reverse lever and then move it by hand to see if it will come out of reverse.
Brian
Brian
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I had the same thing happen to me when I installed new linkage on mine....I didn't have enough movement in the reverse shifter rod and it would not come out of reverse. I would take the rod off the reverse lever and then move it by hand to see if it will come out of reverse.
Brian
Brian
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 517
Likes: 20
From: Scroggins Tx
It's kind of tricky getting the tail housing on and the reverse shifter fork in the right place.The shift shaft needs to be pushed out with the holding pen removed, then by looking and feeling you line up the fork with the gear as you slide the housing forward. This will be very difficult with the trans still in the car. Good luck, Dave
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 129
Likes: 55
From: Tequesta FL
Second: Complete remove all linkage arms from the transmission and make sure the rectangular bosses of all 3 shifter shafts are straight up and down.
If they are and you have still this issue then the Rev fork more than likely was not properly connected to the reverse gear.
If the issue clears up then it may be as simple as a backwards installed reverse linkage arm.
Thanks,
Paul
Last edited by 4speeds; Feb 8, 2016 at 02:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
First: You cannot remove the tailhousing on ANY Muncie while its in ANY car. Don't attempt that. Besides the risk of dropping the forward reverse idler and thrust washer in the case you risk breaking the gasket seal between the forward part of the mid section and main case.
Second: Complete remove all linkage arms from the transmission and make sure the rectangular bosses of all 3 shifter shafts are straight up and down.
If they are and you have still this issue then the Rev fork more than likely was not properly connected to the reverse gear.
If the issue clears up then it may be as simple as a backwards installed reverse linkage arm.
Thanks,
Paul
Second: Complete remove all linkage arms from the transmission and make sure the rectangular bosses of all 3 shifter shafts are straight up and down.
If they are and you have still this issue then the Rev fork more than likely was not properly connected to the reverse gear.
If the issue clears up then it may be as simple as a backwards installed reverse linkage arm.
Thanks,
Paul
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 151
you don't have to pull the engine to get the tranny out. Just put a hydraulic jack with a piece of wood under the oil pan and lift it slightly up,then remove the drive shaft,linkage,clutch linkage,exhaust if necessary(I have side pipes so I'm not sure if the exhaust gets in the way.Take the tranny bolts out,pull back,lift the rear of the tranny and tilt it to the left and the input shaft should clear he bell housing and come down. You might need a helper.
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 4,015
From: New Braunfels Texas
you don't have to pull the engine to get the tranny out. Just put a hydraulic jack with a piece of wood under the oil pan and lift it slightly up,then remove the drive shaft,linkage,clutch linkage,exhaust if necessary(I have side pipes so I'm not sure if the exhaust gets in the way.Take the tranny bolts out,pull back,lift the rear of the tranny and tilt it to the left and the input shaft should clear he bell housing and come down. You might need a helper.
Jebby
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 13
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 332
From: Cartersville GA
Trent...Before dropping it make sure you really have a problem....I went thru the same issue getting it un-stuck out of reverse and took a little doing. Best way I can describe is I had to have the car up on jackstands with the clutch pushed in and spinning the rear tires to get it to move out of reverse. I also had the reverse lockout cable to deal with which I think isn't installed on a 68.
Here is the way Paul (4speeds) describes checking the shifting in the youtube video below....Fast forward to about 40:30.
Brian
Here is the way Paul (4speeds) describes checking the shifting in the youtube video below....Fast forward to about 40:30.
Brian