Good afternoon...If you look down on the side of the transmission there are two tabs that stick out. One is reverse and first gear and the other is second and third gear. If you disconnect the linkage right at the transmission, you can move the tabs by hand, put the transmission in neutral, and then move the car around. You can also see the positions that the linkage tabs need to be put into to put the transmission in gear. Drill the little hole in the top of the column and oil it,as well as the bottom hole, then move the linkage around a lot and keep oiling and in a little while it will free up...ours did but it was a bit of work. Hopefully Ross with see this discussion and comment on it as well.c Ernie in Arizona

Good afternoon...We've had the same problem with our 1949 288 deluxe...I finally drilled a second lube hole at the top of the shaft...just like the one shown with the red arrow. I now lube in both places a couple of times a year with 3-in-1-20 wt oil...works quite well. Note if the areas of the shifting pins have worn a bit, Max Merritt has a kit of new bearings for the shifting pins...they need to be changed with the car on stands or on a lift. Once this is done, then the turn buckles will need a slight adjustment...as they have undoubtly been adjusted over the years as the shift pins have worn the holes bigger....Not too bad to get the old girl shifting well again...Just my experience...Ernie in Arizona

Good Morning...You might try Restoration Supply 800-306-7008 or Max Merritt 800-472-2573. Best to call both places and not try to do it on line. Ernie in Arizona

Good Morning...This is just a guess based on experience...you might have a bad ground. Sometimes the selected ground point has paint on it and the six volt power just won't go through the paint...the other thought is a loose new connection...where a connector was not squished against the wire with enough force. Good luck...Ernie in Arizona

Good Morning. You might wish to try: flacmaster@sbcglobal.net. Ernie in Arizona

Good Morning...As you look for a new battery...take a look at Optama Batteries...I drive a 1949 Packard Deluxe with the 288 engine. I have had two Optama Batteries in 13 years and I live in Scottsdale, Arizona...a bad battery environment! Granted our Packard is six volt...but many friends run the 12 volt ones that have the same 800 amp cold cranking ability. Look at other options...but prehaps other members on Packard Information will share what battery they use and how long it lasts...Ernie in Arizona

Good Morning. Perhaps also look closely at your battery cables. Even if they are proper 00 gage cables, they can be corroded internally and produce the problem you are describing. Ernie in Arizona

It seems to me that you should complete the Jaguar engine. I bet most of us who helped the first time would help again. I know I will. It is just such a cool project. How about it everyone? Kev is special. Ernie in Arizona

Good Evening...Just a point to consider...On our 1949 -- 288, we had to really clean and polish the harmonic balancer, in order to find the timing marks, which were lightly stamped into the harmonic balancer...I allmost gave up, and then lo and behold...there they were. Ernie in Arizona

Good morning. Some of us remove the plugs and then put a penny over the number one plug hole. Turn the engine over by hand and when the penny jumps up, you are at top dead center. I suspect someone has done this with your engine. The pointer and the white spot on the balancer are to help the timing light confirm your setting. Ernie in Arizona