[ChiefRider]

Took the '79 4 speed out this morning- I had just been thinking how good the shifter felt, when attempting to shift from 4th into 3rd, it wouldn't. Fortunately I was able to get home in 4th without any drama.

So what I am experiencing is this: Car is stuck in 4th. I can push shift forward and it sounds like another gear set is attempting to engage (mild grinding sound) but nothing else- no action other than that. And of course, stuck in 4th.

I assume it is a linkage problem, but hope someone has some input that will help me decide if I try to finagle it back in the garage and get under it, or of it goes to the indie from it's present location.

Thanks!

 

[Fonzi]

Does the clutch disengage the drive?

(I'm not sure how you could have gotten it home in fourth otherwise.)


Edit:
I'm thinking your problem is in the shifter, and not the linkage rods.

 

[ChiefRider]

Clutch works fine.

Car is already at the Indie shop. He'll get it up on the lift in an hour or so and we'll figure out what happened.

 

[rowdie]

A shop that is open on Sunday or willing to open. Extremely rare.

I replaced all bushings on my 280SL but it is a five speed.

 

[ChiefRider]

A shop that is open on Sunday or willing to open. Extremely rare.

.

Eccentric is the word. He usually opens around noon. I know there are times when he is working on cars after midnight. Sundays are about a 50-50 proposition. He was doing brakes on an Audi today when I stopped in.

Curious to know what happened.

 

[Fonzi]

@rwd4evr ended up with a broken shifter rod needing welded back onto the shifter on his 450slc 4-speed (with a manual 3.5 trans). I think his was the reverse rod.

 

[ChiefRider]

Problem Solved, Part Number Needed

In the spectrum of what could have gone wrong, this must be the best case scenario! The circlip that keeps the shift linkage rod attached is gone. This allowed the linkage rod to slip out, disconnecting the shift from the trans. Of course, neither I nor the shop have any of these on hand.


While the car is on the lift, it is getting some new exhaust rubber hangers. I last looked at these in October. Since then, 2 have disappeared. Time to replace all.

 

[nobby]

In the spectrum of what could have gone wrong, this must be the best case scenario! The circlip that keeps the shift linkage rod attached is gone. This allowed the linkage rod to slip out, disconnecting the shift from the trans. Of course, neither I nor the shop have any of these on hand.


While the car is on the lift, it is getting some new exhaust rubber hangers. I last looked at these in October. Since then, 2 have disappeared. Time to replace all.

Glad it worked out as well as it did...besides the tow truck.

Those exhaust hangers might be "bouncing" off. Zip tie them to the hooks on the car.......at least then you won't lose them.

I used up 4 donuts on the Labrador Palooza until I finally secured them.

 

[ChiefRider]

Managed to find one of the new 10mm circlips this afternoon. Trying to find a source for the reinforced rubber hangers for the exhaust system. We'll secure it for now with the regular rubber ones, but I like the reinforced ones better. Also noticed that the trans is weeping lubricant thru the shifter shafts that transit thru the side of the transmission. Will need to order new seals for those. Other than that everything looks pretty good underneath. Just happy I'm not dealing with a bigger issue.

Transport was no problem, my Allstate auto club took care of that.

 

[jaymaynard]

In the spectrum of what could have gone wrong, this must be the best case scenario! The circlip that keeps the shift linkage rod attached is gone. This allowed the linkage rod to slip out, disconnecting the shift from the trans.

You got off easy.

The second new car I ever bought, when I was much younger, was a 1983 Thunderbird Turbo with a 5-speed. Not long after I got it, Dad taught me how to drive it without using the clutch. Good thing, too.

A year or so in, one day the clutch quit. Pedal went to the floor with no resistance. Turned out there was a little cable about an inch and a half long with a ball swaged onto each end, and it had broken. I drove it to the dealer, bought the part, got under the car right there in their driveway, snapped the new one in place. Never had any more trouble with that. Wish I could have said that about the rest of the car...

 

[ChiefRider]

The '79 is back home and all is well. My copilot is pleased! I'm keeping a spare clip in the toolbox from now on.

 

[jaymaynard]

A spare clip? That sounds like the kind of thing that will go sproing! and disappear somewhere inaccessible when you're trying to replace it. Keep several. They're bound to be cheap.