Wont shift into 3rd gear

I have a 3 speed that was converted to a floor shifter. When i bought the car if shifted fine. i towed it home and now it will not shift into 3rd gear. All other gears are fine. What should i check? ******'s are not my thing.

 

Adjust the linkage.

 

Is it when trying to drive the car or are you just sitting still without anything running and are just trying to shift into all the gears?

 

It is both. Neither one will let me shift into 3rd.

 

Yes...specifically, the shift-rod that goes from the shifter to the 2nd/3rd gear lever on the trans. See if you can adjust it to go a little further into 3rd. You may need to adjust the stop-bolt on the shifter too.

Try this. Disconnect the 2nd/3rd shift rod from the lever on the trans. Shift the trans all the way into 3rd. Now adjust the rod to the correct length until it engages the shift-lever easily, and finish ***embly. Now, if when you take 'er for another test-drive, it pops out again, the problem is probably in the trans itself. (Worn shift-fork)

 

Thanks for the info. I will try it tomorrow. Will let you know.

 

I removed the linkage and shifted manually. I still can not get it into 3rd gear. It sounds like it hits something and will not go any further. I removed the linkage from the smaller lever and made sure it was not hitting this when trying to shift. I see the longer arm will hit the smaller one if the smaller one is already in another gear.

How do i remove the transmission?

 

drain the trans oil, remove the linkages and speedometer cable, remove the 4 bolts keeping the trans connected to the bellhousing and the two bolts keeping it anchored to the crossmember, then go into the car, lift the carpet and if I remember well in a '51 you should have a sort of removable panel in the floor to take off the trans from the inside of the car.
This transmissions are pretty easy to work on, I've just re***embled mine last weekend after changing gaskets and oil seals, it was the first time for me, but with a friend with some more knowledge than me and with the shop manual I was able to do it!

So get a shop manual, you can buy it on ebay, from chevsofthe40s.com or something like this, it's going to be around 20$, and if you plan to keep this one, the big book can become a good friend of you!

maybe someone more aknowledged than me and with a better english than mine will chime in and give you more help, but this should be a good start!

Try also to use the search function here on the hamb, I think that you can find some informations on this trans, and look also at chevytalk.com on there you're gonna find a complete rebuild process with pictures

good luck with your trans

 

Thanks for the info. that makes perfect sense. The only questions i have is since I dont have a drive shaft, I am not sure what that thing is that connects the rear end to the trans (maybe a torque tube?) How do i get the trans out? Remove the rear end or disconnect the engine and lift it out of the way? sorry for the dumb questions but this is the first time I have worked on this type of setup. I will get the manual tonight.

 

I ***ume this is a Chevy? If so disconect torquetube at rear of trans. A big ball looking thing with 4 bolts as I recall. Slide the ball back to the rear and split the ujoint [4 bolts] ,drop front of TT to the ground. 2 bottom bolt on trans are inside of the bellhousing drop tin bottom cover to access.

 

I think I am down to my last step here. Sorry for all the questions, my shop manual has not come in the mail.

1. Blue arrow, is that as far as the tourque tube should go?

2. Red arrow, should this just push back now inside the ball thing after I removed the 4 bolts holding the u-joint? When I do that should the tourque tube be able to be moved out of the way.

3. Yellow arrow, this should not come off until I remove the ******?

4. White arrow, When replacing the ****** should this be replaced at the same time?

Thanks again guys,
Chuck

 

There is a knurled collar on the torque tube just behind the ball (blue arrow). You should be able to loosen it and slide the forward portion of the torque tube back. This will give you clearance to remove the u-joint.

 

pull the rear end back if you cant move it easy(unbolt it from the rear leafs)

 

Just a side note here. If it is one of the inexpensive "universal" floor shifters they were pretty well known as being a quick way to destroy a three speed. A lot of the were pretty crude and hung up between gears quite often.

Also no three speed I know of will go into two gears at the same time without issues. If you have the 1-R lever in gear the 2-3 lever will not go into gear. At not without breaking something if the vehicle is moving.

 

If you haven't already done that you need to.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I finally got the ****** out. Now to find out whats wrong with it.

 

I heard that little Nash Rambler had the same problem. Beep Beep