Technical No 3rd Gear

I have a 1962 Ford Falcon with 3 on the tree. I went to take it out for a drive and could not get into 3rd gear. Transmission rev like it was in Neutral.

Anyone have any idea what could be the cause of this issue?

 

Spend some time looking at the shifter, make sure the two levers at the lower end of the steering column are moving as they should. It helps to have someone sit in the car and move the lever, while you watch the action under the hood.

 

Everything on the column appears to be working fine.

 

You can get second, which is the same linkage.
So it's as Jim says, the linkage from the column to the trans or a shift fork worn out on one side not pushing enough to engage the gear internally. It's almost always the former.
This is the first result of a search.
https://www.fordification.com/forum...rt gauge,the sleeves on the rods 7 turns each.

 

2 and 3 are in the same lever on the trans.
You go from 2 to neutral to 3 when you shift it.
Neutral is in the center of that action
You can disconnect the 2-3 shift arm from column to the trans and see if you can shift into 3

or disconnect from the column and actuate from under the hood.

 

I will disconnect the linkage from the transmission and see if it goes into 3rd gear by hand. If it does then I will know the linkage needs adjustment. If it doesn't go into 3rd I will know its an internal problem.

 

BINGO!

Ben

 

The car in neutral. Not sure how to adjust

 

Before you do anything soak the adjuster nut with good penetrating oil. That is the nut you see on the top end of the 2-3 rod. Heat would be good if you can reach it with a torch. You really don't want to break these.
Hold the rod with vise grips in an area where there are no threads and put a wrench on the adjusting nut. Make sure there is not a jam nut that has to be loosened. Tighten or loosen until you can engage both gears. Check the points where the rod attaches on both ends for looseness. I think these have bushings at least on the trans end and those could be worn or missing.
A better photo of the jam nut would help. Looks like it's way loose but not enough detail to be sure. Another photo lit up with a shop light would help.

 

Does the fact you are wanting to adjust mean you unhooked the linkage at the transmission and it went into third? If so, good. Now, if the linkage has not been " MESSED " with, why is it out of adjustment? Worn? Probably! Are motor mounts worn out? Probably.

Good luck

Ben

 

https://oldcarmanualproject.com/man...curyShopManual/gr6/pages/65FMShop0131_jpg.htm