Technical 63 Impala 3 speed trans stuck in gear

Hi guys . It’s a long story but my 3 speed manual column******* is stuck in gear. I think 1st gear. It was shifting fine until I remove it from the car to fix chattering issues. Those issues got resolved but now it wont get out of gear. I can’t even open the side inspection cover. Any ideas on how to fix this without removing the******* again? I did raise it off the wheels and apply the clutch. Still won’t get out of gear. I have a video on YouTube .

 

this picture you took (first post)...is that how it is now, or is that how it was before you put the side cover back on? because the 1-R gear is slid back off the end of the 2-3 shift sleeve, and if you put it together like that, you're screwed ...

take it out and take it apart all the way?

do you have the service manual for the transmission? this is for the 1955, but it's the same transmission

https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955/55csm0701.html

 

How close are you to KC? I actually have a 1963 Chevy three speed that would be usable with a new side cover I'd probably give away

 

I just****embled one.
That side cover should come off.
Put both side shift levers in the center detent. Align the gears to fit the 2 forks

 

The pic is from earlier when it was stuck in the rear position. I decided to Jack it up off the wheels and was able to move it to the center with the help of a screw driver lightly leverage.
I put it back together with the shift forks and gears in neutral. I tested the shift levers on the outside of the*******. It went good all the way forward and middle but wouldn’t go to the rear . When I started it and applied the clutch. I shifted it into 1st and tried the rest of gears it wouldn’t go. So I drained all the fluid and linkage , and the inspection cover but that too is stuck due to the shifter forks. Like I said earlier it never had shifter problems before I took it out. I did drop it like 2 times on the ground less than 10” while it was on a Jack. I also put my finger in the fill, drain and inspection holes trying to retrieve a gear oil cap that had accidentally fallen in but i recovered that with compressed air. I busted my**** getting this******* installed and will not remove it again. At this point no one knows what to do so I might have to take it to a******* shop.

 

I’m in San Diego. Thanks

 

Take the shift arms off, slide the side cover off the shift shafts, locate and collect all the parts. Reassemble the side cover, check operation. Block the clutch pedal down and turning the driveshaft, check the 2-3 shift hub and the R-1 slider for proper operation. If everything checks out; put the side cover back on being sure to the forks engage; probably a good idea to check the manual to see if the trans and shift cover has to be in a certain gear to install the shift cover.

 

I have a 8 ball, I asked a about this transmission and it said....
Some Thing Wrong.....

Me and my 8 ball think that this is not a under the car with a screwdriver fix.

 

So far that makes the most sense. I had the drive shaft removed to be balanced and a new carrier bearing when i went to reinstall it the universal joints didn’t line up with the differential. I forgot what I did but I got them lined up and bolted in. I also wasn’t sure which way the 1st,2nd shift fork was supposed to face. I looked at the service manual and it showed the hump toward the rear. Is this the correct way it should face?

 

So far that makes the most sense. I had the drive shaft removed to be balanced and a new carrier bearing when i went to reinstall it the universal joints didn’t line up with the differential. I forgot what I did but I got them lined up and bolted in. I also wasn’t sure which way the 1st,2nd shift fork was supposed to face. I looked at the service manual and it showed the hump toward the rear.

 

I was looking at a disassembly video of the same******* side cover and it looks like even if I removed the shifter arms it might not come off because its bolted inside with a bar.

 

Sorry about the bad info; been a long time I had one of these apart.

 

Good news I got the side cover off. Can you look at these pics and which is the correct way the shifter fork is supposed to face. The wheels roll now and I can slide it into neutral but it gets hung up when it goes toward the rear. Not sure if it’s 2nd or 1st.

 

This is correct



notice that the 1-R fork has a notch for the 2-3 fork to fit into.

 

If it’s loocking up when you move 1-R are you sure you’ve not got it in reverse and another gear, in the photo, based on the shift lever positions, the gears don’t appear to be aligned for neutral.

 

Trans in neutral

forks in neutral

 

I jacked it up and the wheels moved earlier then I tried moving the internal parts to see if anything is loose, broken or binding. That photo was after I moved the wheels so I can move the slider and synchronizer where it’s supposed to be. Maybe I’ll put some gear oil on all the internals before I fill it?

 

Hey I was checking the 1st/2nd sliding gear and when I moved it all the way back it actually came off the slider . I have a video of what happened. How in the hell was that able to happen?. I got it back on and this is what it looks like now. I don’t know what else to do.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/0Il8PnbyC9U?si=dMnL85w3d9mWrPfa

 

the video doesn't show exactly what happened because the camera is not pointed in the right place at the right time. But if you put the 2-3 into 3rd gear position, then there is room for the 1-R gear to slide off the end of the sleeve. You have to be careful to not do that! when the side cover is off.

The interlock in the side cover between the levers, prevents this happening when the side cover is in place.

 

Line up the gears like in the pics I posted above.
Make sure the shift forks are like in the pics
Drip the side cover on

 

Yeah, I couldn’t do that on the video but I was able to recover and put it back on

 

So guys I’ve got the******* in the car hooked up to engine crankshaft and drive shaft. How do I turn the******* to get everything line up properly? I’ve had it jacked up off the rear wheels with the clutch engaged. This is my first time ever dealing with a******* so I’m learning from ya’ll as I go. How did the******* end up in this situation? I thought I had it in neutral when I originally took out the******* but don’t remember.

 

Did you push on the clutch pedal at any time that the transmission was out of the car?

 

Actually I think I did and it went clunk to the floor. This whole******* job has been a nightmare since I’m alone, inexperienced oh and the car is on a sloped driveway. The guys on 61-64 impala Chevy talk forum think I’m foolish, stubborn but I’m not quitting yet. I have until Monday to get this done. I made an appointment with a******* shop to have her towed in as plan B.

 

what exactly are you asking about lining up?

 

Hey y’all I got it on properly. The forks aren’t lined up earlier so I’m back up and running . I will be using this form more instead of chevytalk. Thank you to everyone who helped me with this situation. If you’re in San Diego or will be down here. Contact me so i can get you a beer.