Shifted into reverse .....wtf

So long story that I'm just to mad to bring up but here is the summary! Driving at about 15mph when shifted into reverse. Rear tires locked and car came to a stop and couldn't get out of gear. The 50 fires up with clutch in and the moment you let go of the clutch it wants to move but doesn't. Is ****** brown? What should I do? Specs: 50 ford shoebox all stock with stock rear and 3spd.

 

****** or diff gears are shredded.

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

Thank your lucky stars you weren't on the interstate! Gary

 

Or the trans could be locked in forward and reverse. Try getting underneath and moving the linkage by hand at first and then by "carefully" prying the rods .

 

Seriously! It was my father inlaw driving it from one to another. He was doing me a favor. I couldn't show my true feelings.

 

I can't see how it could get into rev at 15 mph.

First thing I'd look at, is to see if it's in 2 forward gears at once. Does the shifter feel odd?

Column shift? Look under the hood for the two levers. Have someone hold the clutch in, motor off, then rock the car a bit while trying to shift both rods back to neutral.

 

Sounds like your ****** may be hosed. Try rocking the car back and forth while working the gear shift to see if you can get it out of gear.


Edit: F&J beat me to it.

 

Tried and no movement

 

I think your wrong. I doubt you could get into R at 15mph. Most likely your in 2 gears at once. Worn shift rod bushings will do that. Not coming compleatly out of first and going into second will lock you up. Get under the hood and put both shift rods in N position, start the motor and see what happens. You might be lucky and have No damage. Then fix your shift linckage.
The Wizzard

 

I did it to a 65 Mustang many years ago. second and reverse at the same time.

 

I've seen that happen more than once on those old Fords, poppet balls on the shift shafts get worn and the transmission gets stuck in two gears at once.

 

Check the linkage!! It'd be tough to get it into reverse just driving!

 

That's what my thought was but its strange because the rear wheels locked and It came to a stop. I tried rocking the car back and forth and nothing. The shifter feels hard and it does move but not enough to bring it out of gear. I'll jack it up in the morning and see.

 

X2 My thoughts exactly.

 

Subscribed, just going see how this plays out. Many valid replies all ready given.

 

I did something like that in a '51 Merc. only I was backing up and managed to grab 2nd gear as the interlock was worn out, not pretty, not pretty at all. split the case lengthwise and actually broke the cluster in two chunks. Oh well live and learn. I'm betting his interlock (balls/springs and pin) are worn out , might have to pull the sidecover to get it free "If" it didn't waste everything inside.

 

Rock it back and forth with somebody crouching down to see if the driveshaft has movement [ this will eliminate the rear end ]

It is highly probable that it "money shifted" two gears at once.

1st and 2nd !

I'm guessing the tangs on the mainshaft holding the circlip for 2nd gear have broken off allowng 2nd gear to slip forward and engage into the 2-3 slider while it's still in 1st [on another slider]

 

I agree that it is unlikely it went into reverse when going forward. Most likely it is jammed between two forward gears. Get the back tires off the ground and go underneath and disconnect the shift linkage from the arms on the transmission. Then try to move the arms back into their center (neutral) position. It might take some force to get it unstuck, but something like vice grips clamped on as a handle might make it move.

Something internal could be goofed up, but start by trying to unstick it at the arms first. If that fails, drop the driveshaft and see if the rear end turns when you turn the yoke.

Don

 

I too would be surprised if was put in reverse at 15mph. Those column shift linkages would wear out and hang up the shifter. Usually they wouldnt hang up too bad and all you had to do is pop the hood and pull up what ever linkage rod was stuck down. As teenagers we would never fix them and save up $ for a floor shifter. As mentioned, it could be the side cover also. You have to take it off to check it, but you put one lever in gear and see if you can move the other into gear. If you can, its bad. My 0.02

 

So step one... Attempted to wiggle the linkage hoping it would release itself with absolutely no success.

Step two... Lifted rear of car disconnected the shaft and turned to make sure rear is good and it's good.. isolated problem at the ******.

Step three... Connected shaft and rocked car tried to pop out of gear but nothing.

Step four... Drained ****** and pieces of metal came out with the oil oooohhh I'm mad.

Step five... Drank a six pack while I starred at the car wondering why me.

Step six... Opened it up and it's a mess metal pieces everywhere

Step six... Opened up Craigslist looking for new ****** so I can swap it out.

I just picked this shoebox up and it's my sixth one. I want to keep it as traditional as possible so the drivetrain I want to keep like it was back in the 50's so no th350 or c4's wanted. So fellow hambers it was more than just a linkage wiggle to get it back on the road. Any tips on what I could run that's bolt on and better than a rebuilt 3spd?

 

I believe that trans bolt pattern is called "49 to 64 Ford 3 and 4 speed"

a stock 3 speed is OK for a cruiser, if the shifter gets fixed so that it won't screw up again.

 

Want a 3-speed affordable bulletproof ****** that's a 'bolt in'?
Get a '68 on up fully synchronized 3 speed, dual pattern case.

* small pattern will bolt up to your bellhousing.
* Gears are huge, 1st has synchro mesh.
* Clutch hub may be different, use the relative disc from a '68.
* This is a top-loader, so a Jeep tower can be bolted on, converting it to a REAL floor shift. (just eliminate the shift forks inside the trans)
* Drive shaft slip joint is larger, (same as 350 Chev automatic???)

 

What?....no offer to also do the swap for him? Sounds like the way to go.

 

The '63 and newer three speed trans is indeed fully synchro'd.....in all forward gears, but not reverse. Having that trans would not have helped in your case if someone shifted it into reverse at speed.

If you don't find a nice replacement, check with me. I've got a 49-50 three speed trans rebuilt sitting on the shelf and can give ya a decent deal on it..........Mac VP

 

If your still running the Flattie do yourself a favor. Go to the 3+1. It will bolt up to your stock bellhousing, it looks like a top loader T-10. It uses a Hurst style shifter and shifts just like a 4 speed. The kool thing is 3rd gear position is actually 1 to 1 as in direct drive or High gear in a 3 speed and 4th position is overdrive. On top of all that they are cheep. You'll never regret doing this.
The Wizzard