1952-59 Ford transmission question

I have a '53 ford customline 3speed car. I took out my clutch to fix a finger put it back together now car wont shift into reverse. do I have to adjust cluch more or do I have to do something else? car goes into 1 2 3 gears fine but shifter wont go up into reverse.

 

Sounds like you got the wrong shift rod on the wrong lever . Undo your shift rods off the side of your trans , now make sure you have the column shifter in neutral position , now move you r trans levers until they are in the neutral position . Now make sure you hook up the correct reverse & 1st gear lever up on the right lever , now take the 2nd & 3rd shifter and hook that one up to the correct lever . Now make sure you have new or very good bushings for the rods to set into the use the proper clip to fasten the levers to the shift linkage .

Now start her up ans see if you got thru first & reverse on one shift and the 2nd & 3rd on the other shifter . If everything is hooked up correctly and adjusted correctly then you should be OK .
Now if it is still stuck between 2 gears , then take the trans out and take the inspection plate off and see what the problem . Then correct the problem and put it all back together .

Jim

 

Sounds to me like Jim is right: linkage problem. Good luck!

 

did as you said but shifter on column jams up feels like its binding on something. also when car is neutral car wont roll back as if the E-brake is (is not on)
also car has an overdrive never worked so i didnt hook up wires.
thanks alot retro jim for the info...

 

Ok the problem is at the bottom of the steering column where the shift rods are . The problem id they start to where down and won't line up correctly so you end up getting the 1st to 2nd rods binding up . Now you can drive it like that but when you go from 1st to 2nd you have to "feel" your way to get them into neutral then shift . NO more shifting fast from 1 st to 2nd . You really have to shift the "H" pattern now . The only other things to do is rebuild the column or put a 3 on the floor !
If toy unhook the linkage at the bottom of the steering shaft , you will get a much better idea of what is going on . I have had many of them go bad on me over the years but I just got a floor shifter to correct the problem . That's the easy way out !

Jim

 

thanks but i found the problem the overdrive unit on side of ****** was not put in right so i took it out and the car shifted right into reverse so i turned the unit and bolted it and now it shifts ok now (overdrive unit never worked since I bought the car). going to take a drive now lets see if i solved the problem...
(LOL i never drive fast in any gear I drive 35 - 40 mph everywhere i go...I always say lets enjoy the drive!!!)

 

Damn , I am glad that's all it was !
Well now just hook the OD back up and make sure the cable is good or get a new one .

NOW go out and drive around for a while and enjoy your FORD !

Jim