Lost reverse on my TH350, any ideas?

So I backed the sedan out of the garage and went to lunch, no issues. Stopped by a buddy's shop and slid into some mud. I went to back up and I had no reverse. Got back on solid ground and still nothing. I drove home and I have all three forward gears, no noise, trouble shifting or anything? Its a Turbo 350 with a manual valve body. I actually have to shift it and drop it back into first when I'm stopped. The car usually lurches a bit and the RPM's drop when I go into reverse but that's not happening now. Anybody got a clue?

 

Is the fluid level O.K.? Even a quart low causes the problem that you're describing.

 

Happened in my '66 truck once, turned out all I need was a new filter.

 

The park/reverse pawl fell off. Drain the fluid and drop the pan. You're nut will be in the bottom of the pan.

 

Fluid Low? What does the fluid look like...Does the fluid smell burned? Is the fluid real dark?

 

if you already did this......

then this is you're likely answer.

 

Fluid is good, checked it when it was running when I got home. The trans got rebuilt last year and has les than 2000 miles on it. I will drop the pan in a few when it cools off some more.

 

Probably this...happened to mine.

 

Duh, dont drive backwards!

 

Try adding a pint of ATF anyway. I have had a few T350's that would lose R unless they were overfull.

 

Yeah...if it's out your back window it's in the past, man. Just keep moving forward.

 

Long time ago, this happened and I was low on trans fluid.

 

Well I didn't find a pawl or nut in the bottom of the pan. Unfortunately I did find several small pieces of shrapnel, lots of aluminum shavings, and two pieces of rubber. Guess I start pulling the engine and trans. At least I got a good 50 miles of driving it the last two days

 

oooh thats no good........

 

Ugh...I was hoping for the nut in the pan.

 

That looks less than optimal.

 

From what I can see it looks like a couple needle bearings, some really sharp aluminum slivers, and I have no idea where the two pieces of black rubber came from?

 

Maybe a thrust bearing...

 

I hope you are still under warranty.

 

Well I guess I'll go find out. Time to get off the computer and pull the engine/trans. God Damnit I hate automatics. I just realized every street car, hot rod, and circle track car I've ever owned, an auto trans has been the weak link in every vehicle. Even the ones like this one that were "professionally" rebuilt.

 

Can't beat a cheap, Saginaw 3-speed

 

Scott looks like a thrust bearing and the rubber almost looks like a lip seal from maybe from the high drum that is a lp seal rite. and all that **** in the pan means its done. You said you had all 3 forward rite.
Either that or the rebuilder lost his thong in your pan.

 

Hey you no what scott the 350 has reverse piston on the bottom of the case that's what the seal is and the other parts are definitly thrust bearing off the backof the pump.
Sorry its been 20 years since I rebuit a 350 ******

 

What nut? He's got manual 1-2-3 with his shifter.