1969 Shifting Problem
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
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From: South San Francisco CA
1969 Shifting Problem
My 1969 427-435 4 speed is giving me a bit of trouble. It's hard (sometimes) to get into Reverse. Sometimes it goes in easily and then other times I have to engage the clutch in first gear and move the car a little and then it will go in easily. Could this be a linkage problem? All four forward gears are working perfectly and it's every easy to go into any other gear....except Reverse. I'm wondering if the linkage rod might need an adjustment....? Any help would be appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
I'd say this is pretty typical of Muncies and most period 4 speeds in general. Mine is the same way and the toploader in my BOSS 302 does it as well, although not as bad. Pretty normal from this end.
Hans
Hans
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 0
From: Warren MI
I have that problem too. What I have found is that if I go into neutral first...wiggle the shifter side to side...and then go into reverse it works well. Going directly from a gear to reverse often causes me problems. I hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,458
Likes: 1,484
From: Little Rock AR
Reverse has no sychro so if the clutch is not be fully releasing, the car will grind going into reverse. If this is a new problem, I would first check the clutch adjustment. You want 1" of free play before you feel resistance in the pedal. Use a tape measure and finger pressure on the pedal pad. If you need to adjust it there is a threaded rod in the linkage.
If the clutch pressure plate has been overheated or if the disk is warped or bent, you will not get a clean release and the drive gear will be spinning while you are trying to put it into reverse gear which is not spinning.
Some difficulty is common but grinding is probably clutch related.
-Mark.
If the clutch pressure plate has been overheated or if the disk is warped or bent, you will not get a clean release and the drive gear will be spinning while you are trying to put it into reverse gear which is not spinning.
Some difficulty is common but grinding is probably clutch related.
-Mark.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
I had some trouble with mine even with the hurst shifter (replaced now with stock) when I first got it. Sometimes I could NOT get it into reverse no matter what I did. It physically would not go ito reverse. I was not grinding and would not go into reverse even with the engine not running. This would just happen at random somtimes days apart, sometimes every time I tried. Ten minutes later it would slide right in like butter. I meticulously adjusted the linkage. (no help). Then I changed the trans oil (Valvoline SAE 85) which seemed a little low. Never had anymore problems. Here's what I think the problem is. The reverse gear is in the tail housing so if the oil level is even a little low, the reverse gears gets little or no oil because the oil can only get there through the rear bearing.
Last edited by Larry B.; Jan 25, 2005 at 06:10 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 984
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
I had the same problem with my 69 350/350 car once. To correct the problem I properly adjusted the shifter, a stock shifter has a slot that must be pinned to hold the shifter in neutral while the linkage is adjusted, I can't remember what I used though but you can see the approximate 3/8ths x 1/8th place in the shifter housing for the pin to go. A hurst shifter adjust the same way only the hole is round and the correct size drill bit can be used if the plastic pin provided with the shifter is not available. Make sure to adjust the linkage with all of the arms in neutral. I then just got into the habit of putting the car in 1st gear before going to reverse to take advantage of the syncronizer this stops the cluster from spinning and makes it easier for the reverse gear to engage. Other problems could exist but this fixed mine. Good luck. 
