Concur with the shop manual advice.
In the meantime, though, there are a few basic things you can trouble shoot (Because we often overlook the obvious, let's check the easy stuff first before getting too crazy).
1. Check the shift linkage to make sure its connected to the transmission and adjusted. If the truck is new to you, is there actually a transmission in it? Sorry to ask a seemingly dumb question, but .... we can assume that when you bought the truck, you actually checked it completely out, but we all know that even basic assumptions need to be verified in troubleshooting scenarios ... ;
2. Make sure the joints in the torque tube are connected;
and 3. Make sure the axle shafts are actually installed in the rear axle (pull the hubcaps off and look at the hub. If the axles have been pulled, it will be instantly obvious)
So, the engine is running (and the transmission is the original one with the column-mounted shifter i.e., the "3 on the tree?") but when you shift into a gear and release the clutch, nothing happens? Have you *ever* driven this truck? If yes, go back over what you've done to it (and disconnected) to see if you forget something ...
With the engine not running, will it go into a gear (i.e., to keep it from rolling)? Or have you just been using a chock or the parking brake? If it does go into a gear, will it keep the truck from rolling? If the truck *does* roll, is it rolling freely or turning the engine over?
Check the shift linkage to make sure it's connected and not loose. When you manipulate it to change gears, does it feel like it's actually moving things inside the tranny? Loose/worn column-shifter linkage is a very common issue.
If that's all ok, then when you shift into a gear, does it feel like something is happening (like the clutch is disengaging and the tranny is starting to turn gears, but its not actually transmitting torque to the rear axle?
If it feels like things are working like they should but nothing is moving, then check the rear hubs (or check those first -- it's probably going to be the easiest to rule out)
If any of these things turns up a clue then you know where to start when your shop manual arrives.
If none of this turns up a clue, then you know what *isn't* the problem and you will know that you probably need to use the shop manual and have a few experts render some assistance to determine your issue.
Maybe one of our experts has something else easy to check, also. I'm just a firm believer in checking the easy stuff first
. Hopefully you have a forehead slapper issue here (i.e., easy and simple). IF you do find something simple to fix and get things moving ... Make sure your brakes work before venturing too far from the garage
Getting the truck to go is great but getting it to stop is pretty important, too.
Good luck with it!!
John
