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Help !!! My neighbor moved my 1953 GMC into my driveway after driving it around the block (who knows what he did) the transmission is now stuck in a forward gear and the gear shift lever does not move. It is stuck just above horizontal. Where should I start to locate what the trouble is ???

Start with your Neighbor!! Just kidding I'm sure someone else will be able to help you out, good luck.

If you've got a 3-speed, then the neighbor probably got the 1st--reverse shifter a little messed up. Under the hood it's the shifter lever closest to the engine manifold. You might have to disconnect the shifter arm from the lever, and work the rod up or down till it hits neutral (mid-travel). Then, using the shifter, try to get 2nd and 3rd in neutral. Hook it all back up and you should be OK. Not a good idea to force anything. Good Luck, Tom

Wow - helping out someone on your 2nd post? Awesome to have you aboard, trquedprf.

the [very common] problem will be in the shifter box on the column - need to manually move the arms that come out of it to get it back in neutral, shouldn't require disconnecting anything - make sure you're on level ground and there's no driveline force on the trans or have someone hold the clutch in and the brake on ... your neighbor made a sloppy shift just before he stopped, but it indicates you need to give that box some TLC

Bill

I have often had the same problem with my '66 3 speed. In my case I would have to put the e-brake on, press the clutch (to make sure the weight of the truck was not on the transmission.) Open the hood and push down on the rod nearest to the firewall and pull up on the other one, then the truck would begin shifting again. Like Red58 said, it was from making a poor shift, in my case if you just kinda let the gear shift slip from first to second gear without firmly holding it and placing it into gear.

It probably(as my truck has done TWICE) has too much torque on the tranny. ******Do the following steps safely. Jack up the rear end and block the front wheels, and set the parking brake. Then, either hit the starter(DON'T START IT!!!) or you and a friend turn the (rear)wheels forward. This should take the torque off of the tranny and allow you to shift into neutral. You can also turn the engine by hand. I'm not sure about this, as I used the starter, but you may need a third person pushing up on the lever to get it out of gear by turning the wheels.

Out of the three 50s Chevys I have owned in my brash youth, every one had this problem. They just wear out and need some adjustment or replacement. I use to raise the hood and grab those levers and shake the dickens out of them. Worked for me.