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Topic: stuck in reverse

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components

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stuck in reverse (1/13)
2/27/08 6:47pm

JagVette
Former Member
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Gilbert, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Stingray Coupe

Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108

I have just put all new seals and gaskets in my transmission and i would swear i put it back as it came out, however it is now stuck in reverse and i was hoping not to have to remove the transmission, can anyone give me some hints as to what might be causing this Confused

Gary(dumb ass)

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stuck in reverse (2/13)
2/27/08 7:31pm

ranger3

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North Charleston, SC - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L48 AT AC T-top

Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176

What transmission do you have and how far did you tear it down?

Scott

stuck in reverse (3/13)
2/27/08 8:41pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20203

Well, Mr. Ass, let's see...

Sounds like you have a 4 speed. If it is, and you're sure the linkage is not the problem, then I have some bad news for you...
The reverse gear/fork is a real pain to get assembled correctly, and it is easy to miss the gear with the fork/saddle as you slide the tailhousing back on. If you can put the 1-2 and 3-4 shift levers in neutral, and move the reverse lever both ways, and it is still in reverse, you have missed the gear with the fork/saddle. Sadly, the only way to get it back correctly is to pull the trans back out...

If your car is an automatic, then you've got some 'splaining to do...I can't see anything that you could have done to cause it to be stuck in reverse just by changing seals and gaskets, unless you took the valve body off, or removed the shift shaft to replace that seal. If so, then you prolly forgot to reconnect the manual valve back to the linkage on the inside of the trans.

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stuck in reverse (4/13)
2/27/08 10:20pm

Gene
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Fort Wayne, IN - USA

Vette(s):
'75 Stingray Coupe - 350 Bored, Edelbrock Alum. Heads, Performer Intake/ Carb., Harland Sharp Roller Rockers, MSD Ign., XE Comp. Cam, Pete Jackson Gear Drive, Hooker Headers, Side Pipes, TH400, 3000 RPM Stall and 3.55 Rear Gears

Joined: 1/17/2005
Posts: 179

My auto trans. got stuck like that, I can't remember why. But knew all I had to do was fix the linkage mount on the side. Maybe when I had recently put the dual exhaust on and I remembered it was binding or something. I was in the middle of the street and it was pouring down raining, luckily I knew what to do.

stuck in reverse (5/13)
2/28/08 11:40am

JagVette
Former Member
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Gilbert, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Stingray Coupe

Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108

It is a 4 speed manual, and I didn't strip it too far down, in other words I did not remove the gears, but from what you guys are saying I may not have the reverse in correctly, I can select 'other' gears but the car won't move and I am assuming the reverse is fighting the forward gears.

At this point I an resigned to removing the box which shouldn't be too bad, but how can I be sure 'before' I put it back that i have assembled it correctly?

One thing I may try as I havn't 'driven' the car yet is to disconnect the prop shaft and let the clutch up to see if it will align itslef (clutching at straws !! Big%20smile

)

ANY ADVICE whould be greatly appreciated. Confused

stuck in reverse (6/13)
2/28/08 8:28pm

Adams' Apple

Taking the driveshaft loose won't do any good if the trans is stuck in reverse....it will move backwards fine, but if you put it in a forward gear, it's gonna lock up. In other words, it ain't gonna fix itself!

So...did you remove the tailhousing to replace the gasket(s)? If you did, then that's where the problem is. If you did NOT remove the tailhousing, then you may simply have the reverse lever in reverse, or even installed the wrong way, where it puts the trans in reverse when the shifter is actually in neutral.

What I suggest you do is verify that you cannot get it out of reverse by moving the shift lever on the trans itself. Disconnect the shifter linkage from the reverse shaft on the trans tailhousing. Then move the lever forward, see if the trans is still locked, and then move the lever rearward, and see if it is still locked. If it is still in reverse either way you move the lever, then the reverse gear is not attached to the reverse shift fork...it happens more often than you would think.

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stuck in reverse (7/13)
2/28/08 9:03pm

JagVette
Former Member
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Gilbert, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Stingray Coupe

Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108

Drat and double drat, yes i did remove the tail housing i thoguht i was being thorough replacing ALL the gaskets, i have already been underneath and disconected the gear lever and no matter which way i put the revers arm it stay in reverse...........BUM Angry

of course your right no choice, i know what i shall be doing this weekend, i just hope i can get the tranny out without having to move the engine, it looks like i can.

Thanks to all for your input and if you have any magic dust to spare i would like to buy it !!!

GAry

stuck in reverse (8/13)
2/28/08 10:14pm

suncountry

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Moses Lake, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II

Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134

You can remove the trans with out pulling the engine. You will need to unbolt the gear shift tower and move it to the side. Remove the trans mount, both the rubber isolator and support under it. This will allow you to slide it back far enough to clear the bell housing. Then drop the nose down and slide out. Its tight but not too hard. Have done mine a few times. Wink

stuck in reverse (9/13)
3/2/08 3:08pm

JagVette
Former Member
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Gilbert, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Stingray Coupe

Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108

Mr Dumbass here !!

OK, it's done, well almost, I just have to put it back in the car.

I wished I had checked it first time it would have saved me a load of hassle, whoever the idiot is that designed this gearbox and worse still the gear lever/lever linkage and the gear lever mount needs stuffing with the rough end of a pineapple. Angry

Yes when I put it back together I had not got it lined up correctly, this time I pre assembled it to find the easiest method before putting on new gaskets etc, of course on final assembly (or as I thought) I had everything on and tighten up except the reverse lever pivot which just needed tapping in place.........yes those of you who have done this job know what is about to happen !!!!!, ok just a little bit more to line up the pin and........ oh S%^t I went a gnatts cork too far folllowed by plunk tinkle, yep the ball bearing that ratchets the lever fell out inside the gearbox doh

, my my oops I exclaimed I shall have to take it all apart again, what joy (well that a a few choice words).

On the second assembly (OK third if you can count) it went back together without a hitch and is now ready to resume it's role in my Vette.

Once again thanks to all who responded to this chat, it really did help me.

Gary

stuck in reverse (10/13)
3/2/08 4:55pm

Redwingvette

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Waterford, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Red coupe

Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1747

Glad to here you got it fixed. It has been a long time since I worked on manual trans and those were Fords so i couldn't be much help to you. Thank the folks here, they always come through.

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Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans

Borgeson Steering box

stuck in reverse (11/13)
3/2/08 8:21pm

suncountry

Good for you Clap

. When I rebuilt mine, I read as much info as I could find on it. Took 2 tries to get it back together right. I did test mine many times before putting back in. Still was sweating bullets until I got a few miles on it. Works great thought.

stuck in reverse (12/13)
3/3/08 12:45pm

JagVette
Former Member
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Gilbert, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Stingray Coupe

Joined: 4/26/2004
Posts: 108

In the imortal words of Frank Barone, HOLY CRAP, I struggled and struggled to get the box back in, what an absolute pig, and of course when I did get it back in I have got the clutch caught up somewhere so need to back it off and fix it in order to change gear, when I discovered it late last night I didn't have the energy to deal with it then, so I will do it tonight. Confused

I hope all of you out there are reading my tales of woe and learning, it's ok to laugh at me but by bareing all my mistakes here I hope you don't make the same ones, shame on you if you do.

stuck in reverse (13/13)
3/14/08 4:58pm

Fairlane514
Former Member
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Houston, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1970 454 4 speed A/C power everything else

Joined: 2/7/2008
Posts: 93

There is a video/DVD on Muncie assembly and rebuild.........check www.5speeds.com

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