Need knowledge ASAP !
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Missouri
Need knowledge ASAP !
I'm a C4 guy, but today I took Grandma out in her '70 stingray (4speed, 300hp350ci)and the tranny broke!
I rolled into the parking lot in 2nd gear and parked. When we finished eating we came out to discover that it would not reverse.
With the shifter in reverse, the engine would stall. Pressed in the clutch, rolled it back manually....grrr..... and went to put it into First.
The shifter would not move from "neutral" below "reverse" over into the forward gears. With the shifter in that position, 2nd gear was engaged.
...SO... I assume that it is "stuck" in 2nd (the last gear I used before parking) and when the shifter is put into reverse, it tries to engage both 2nd and Reverse, causing it to stall .
I know it isn't a c4 but more people I know come here (like the best mechanics) anybody got a clue?
417-593-6641 -my cell
I rolled into the parking lot in 2nd gear and parked. When we finished eating we came out to discover that it would not reverse.
With the shifter in reverse, the engine would stall. Pressed in the clutch, rolled it back manually....grrr..... and went to put it into First.
The shifter would not move from "neutral" below "reverse" over into the forward gears. With the shifter in that position, 2nd gear was engaged.
...SO... I assume that it is "stuck" in 2nd (the last gear I used before parking) and when the shifter is put into reverse, it tries to engage both 2nd and Reverse, causing it to stall .
I know it isn't a c4 but more people I know come here (like the best mechanics) anybody got a clue?
417-593-6641 -my cell
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
It sounds like a problem with the shift lever interlock mechanism in the transmissions shift cover. From under the car, you might be able to get a large channel locks pliers on the 1-2 shift arm of the transmission and muscle it out of second, into neutral. Chances are the 3-4 lever isn't fully or completely in to neutral either. If that works, tell granny to cool it on the power shifts until after she gets a chance to get the shift cover rebuilt. Maybe she does her own maintenance and can handle this herself.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
I don't know exactly how the shift linkage is on that year, but yeah, both reverse and 2nd are engaged.
There's a problem in the shift linkage, most likely the shifter itself.
You can't get the shifter over because the 1-2 gate isn't in the neutral position, it's in gear. Which means its still attached to the 1-2 shift rod at the side cover. Is the shifter sloppy? That could allow it to slide out of 2nd gear position beside the shift gate without actually pulling it into neutral. If this is the case, you might be able to get it back into 2nd if you force it.
Luckily, 2nd gear is the best one to be stuck in, If you pull it out of reverse you can still start the car and drive it, just not really on the highway.
There's a problem in the shift linkage, most likely the shifter itself.
You can't get the shifter over because the 1-2 gate isn't in the neutral position, it's in gear. Which means its still attached to the 1-2 shift rod at the side cover. Is the shifter sloppy? That could allow it to slide out of 2nd gear position beside the shift gate without actually pulling it into neutral. If this is the case, you might be able to get it back into 2nd if you force it.
Luckily, 2nd gear is the best one to be stuck in, If you pull it out of reverse you can still start the car and drive it, just not really on the highway.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
It sounds like a problem with the shift lever interlock mechanism in the transmissions shift cover. From under the car, you might be able to get a large channel locks pliers on the 1-2 shift arm of the transmission and muscle it out of second, into neutral. Chances are the 3-4 lever isn't fully or completely in to neutral either. If that works, tell granny to cool it on the power shifts until after she gets a chance to get the shift cover rebuilt. Maybe she does her own maintenance and can handle this herself.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
If moving the external levers with pliers doesn't work....
then is the internal 1-2 shift fork busted, bent, jammed, or excessively worn???
Will the side cover come off of a Muncie when it is still in the tunnel?
Might want to post this in the C3 forum, also.
then is the internal 1-2 shift fork busted, bent, jammed, or excessively worn???
Will the side cover come off of a Muncie when it is still in the tunnel?
Might want to post this in the C3 forum, also.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Missouri
Problem solved!
Problem solved!
The situation was as I suspected, and the solution was simple:
I got under the car, with the shifter in "neutral" below reverse, and saw that the rear linkage was in the "11-o-clock" position and the forward linkage was (as it should be) straight up.
I grabbed the rear linkage, pulled it to the rear of the car with my hand and *POP* it went to the "12oClock" position. The shifter was freed up and operated properly!
THANKS BUNCHES TO FRIENDS IN TEXAS AND ARIZONA WHO CALLED ME AND GAVE THEIR SAGE WISDOM.
The problem was fixed within the hour it happened, thanks to the corvetteforum!
The situation was as I suspected, and the solution was simple:
I got under the car, with the shifter in "neutral" below reverse, and saw that the rear linkage was in the "11-o-clock" position and the forward linkage was (as it should be) straight up.
I grabbed the rear linkage, pulled it to the rear of the car with my hand and *POP* it went to the "12oClock" position. The shifter was freed up and operated properly!
THANKS BUNCHES TO FRIENDS IN TEXAS AND ARIZONA WHO CALLED ME AND GAVE THEIR SAGE WISDOM.
The problem was fixed within the hour it happened, thanks to the corvetteforum!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Good to hear.
You need to pull that shifter apart and shim it together, or it'll happen again. The shift plates are probably very sloppy and the shifter went right between them.
You can't get the shifter over because the 1-2 gate isn't in the neutral position, it's in gear. Which means its still attached to the 1-2 shift rod at the side cover. Is the shifter sloppy? That could allow it to slide out of 2nd gear position beside the shift gate without actually pulling it into neutral. If this is the case, you might be able to get it back into 2nd if you force it.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
So do you think he may have broke the spring in there that holds it in the detents in gear and in neutral? They actually prevent it from going past the gear, even without the spring. The spring is necessary to keep it lined up well in neutral and in gear, but I don't see how that could keep it in 2nd and allow the shifter to go into reverse.
The problem isn't in the shifter. A loose shifter could have caused the wear and damage, but the real problem is with the interlock which is in the shift cover of the trans.
Tell grandma that it will get easier for that to happen, each time, until it is repaired. I guess a correct post inside of 30 minutes doesn't match a phone call.
RACE ON!!!
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
The problem isn't in the shifter. A loose shifter could have caused the wear and damage, but the real problem is with the interlock which is in the shift cover of the trans.
I know what the interlock is, I looked closely at mine when I had the 4speed apart, I just don't see that as being a likely cause.
More than likely, the interlock is working, and the spring/ball detents held it in 2nd while he pulled the shifter back beside the 1-2 gate and into the reverse gate.
The car was in 2nd gear, and the linkage was in 2nd gear, which is why he couldn't get the shifter out of the reverse gate. I realize the detents are what maintain the neutral alignment, but a bad one won't let the linkage just slide into 2nd gear on its own.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Well kids, back in the "day" when Vettes meant Muncies, this was a very common problem. Worn shift forks, and loose or miss-aligned shift arms caused this problem. Remember, the side case interlock ONLY works between FORWARD gears.