'53 Chevy 3 speed stuck in gear. Help!

I've searched the forums...looks like the linkages are usually to blame. The rear lever of my tranny will not move by hand (with linkages off and rear jacked up)... Front one moves fine. It is the original trans, seem to be fine before I had to do an engine swap. Clutch is working because i have turned the car over. If I have to pull that motor/trans out again, I may just strike a match to this car.

 

make sure the front lever that will move is in the middle neutral position. you might have to put a cresent wrench on the rear lever to persuade if its a hair jammed.

 

One lever must be in "neutral"-middle position-if not the other lever won't move. If it would move with the other lever engaged then the trans would be locked by virtue of being in two gears at once.

 

most common problem with 50's gm column shifters. they jam at the bottom of the steering column. my 54 chev never left home without a screw drive to jiggle the levers under the hood. didn't happen often since I babied the 1-2 shift

 

That was a common problem on 3 speed column shift cars. As was said use a crescent wrench to persuade the linkage to move to neutral. Move the levers on the column to neutral, adjust the rods so that they drop into the trans levers easily. Lubricate the exposed areas of the column's moving parts. Lubing may take care of the problem unless the parts are badly worn.
When I was younger it seemed like we were always getting out and thumping the underhood linkage back into compliance.

~Alden

 

My dad called today and said he messed with it and got it working, but also said it was still acting up at times. Looks like I should go with a floor shift conversion. Anyone reccomend a company that offers these?

Thanks for the help

 

syncro

 

Just rebuild the linkage with new bushings. No reason to scrap it and go with a floor shift.

 

And just in case it becomes necessary, the transmission will come out without engine removal.

 

Another problem was the transmission sideplate. There is an arm to prevent engaging 2 gears at once. This was a POS design as it caused problems. A floorshift WILL NOT cure this. Best answer is open drive and a '68 up full synchro trans OR a complete driveline swap. You are working with stuff made before your dad was born.

 

The box under the hood can be taken apart and you will see the wear and a little welding and grinding then a touch with a file wil make that part right. Then maybe a bushing in the box. Some repairs on the linkage and the grommet holes you'll be back in business. Don't forget the grease in the box.

 

Getting ready to pull one out , linkage and all, in the very near future. Worked fine, never jammed. Just a thought.

 

That would actually depend on the specific build date in my dads case