https://youtu.be/lrrF85vlNZ0

https://youtu.be/Z5Z-5tNPKfY

Hi guys,

As you can tell I had work and other projects get in the way of my progress unfortunately. The above links are videos that I took; does anyone see any smoking guns to my problem? Not sure how much slop is acceptable or normal for each one.

Thanks,
-Chris

So I got reverse to work fine months ago after starting this thread and I simply put the sleeve back on the rod for the reverse servo. I had removed the servo and disassembled it and everything seemed fine. I recently lost reverse again. Fluid level was right around the full mark. I dropped the pan expecting the same issue of the sleeve falling out again, but no, it's still in place. The rocker that touches the top of the reverse servo rod was fine too. Then I thought perhaps the level was just a tad low even though forward gears engaged firmly. I put the pan on with the same old gasket just to test (so yes it leaked a little), threw the old fluid back in there plus two quarts of new fluid to get the level just a little above full, and reverse still wouldn't work.

Anyone have any suggestions on where to go from here?

Ok, thanks for the advice!

So last night I put the sleeve back over the rod that protrudes from the reverse brake assembly and used the same washer and retaining clip. I noticed that there is a couple millimeters of play for the sleeve to move up and down. Is that the design intent or should I add washers to eliminate that play? Also, it seemed like the rocker arm looking device that pushes the reverse brake rod from the top has play to move up and down. Is that correct or should there be something controlling the movement that wouldn't allow me to move it up and down freely? Not sure if the actuation is only present with hydraulic pressure.

I appreciate the feedback from everyone. I finally got around to taking some pictures. I assume the cylindrical body with the shaft poking down is the reverse brake assembly. The sleeve I found in the pan fits over this, so I just need to put the sleeve back on, then the washer, then the retaining clip? Or do I need to pull out the shaft to make sure it's not broken? (I assume it would have fallen out if it was broken).

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Dropped the pan on my '55 400 because it wouldn't move in reverse (I checked the linkage). Wheels would spin in reverse when the car was in the air, but didn't move on the ground. I found these parts sitting at the bottom of the pan. Any thoughts?

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Awesome, thanks for the info Howard! I'll let you know what I find when I get around to digging into it.

So I finally got around to looking at the linkage and played with it to the point where I can get the wheels to spin with reverse engaged with the car in the air. Unfortunately when I set the car on the ground and engage reverse it won't go anywhere, even with a little throttle. Now I'm prepared to drop the pan and do some digging.

Looking at the service manual troubleshooting for 'car does not move with the selector lever in the reverse position', it says:
(a) Remove the control body (I assume this is the valve body?) and free up the reverse shuttle valve.

- My question is where can I find the reverse shuttle valve?

(b) Remove the oil pan and position the strut properly

- My question is where is the strut and how do I determine the proper position?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Chris

Thanks for the info everyone! I'll get to it when I have some free time tomorrow.

Hi guys,

So I tried taking my '55 around the block for the first time. It hasn't been on the road in 10 years. Filled the trans fluid to the full mark while it was idling (it was low because I believe it leaks from the pan and has a new gasket but wanted to take it around the block to make sure it went through the gears before putting a new trans pan gasket on it). It goes into drive and goes forward, but nothing in reverse. I revved it up and it wouldn't creep backwards but it seemed like it was trying.

My first solution I'm going to look into is the trans cable travel, perhaps it isn't going far enough to engage reverse?

My plan B after that is to change the fluid over to B&M trick shift trans fluid and maybe that will make reverse grab?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Tomorrow morning I'm still going to drive around the block anyway.

Thanks,
-Chris