Hey guys I just put my tranny back in from taking everything out to paint my car. The fluid level is correct and all gears were working fine for a few days then all of a sudden I have no reverse. I am using type F new fluid and filter. When I put in it reverse you can hear something click and a engaged sound but nothing happens. I jacked up the rear end and put it in R and the wheels dont spin. Any ideas what could go wrong?

 

Did you have the valve body apart at all? If so you lost a check ball. Let me know and I can show exactly where it goes. Ask me how I know

 

Torgue converter pushed all the way into the Tranny?

 

I didn't have it out but my friend thinks because the tranny sat for such a long time with out the tranny pan that debris got in there and could make the ball stick? It sounds like we're going to have to drop the valve body. I was thinking I might as well put a shift kit in there or upgrading to '67 while its out

 

I dont understand how can the torque converter be pushed all the way to the tranny? when you tighten the convert nuts it brings it towards the engine flushed to the flexplate.

 

If you happen to have jarred it by dropping it or something of the sort, you can knock the struts off the bands. They are small cast iron pieces that fit into a notch on the band, and have a hole for the servo apply pin on the other. If you drop the pan and find a small sort of dart like piece of metal almost as long as your finger, then you have a strut. Pop the servo cover loose and slide the servo out a bit and you can fit the strut back in. It can be a huge PITA.


Otherwise here is what it can be if you have no reverse but forward gears are ok.
Fluid level
damaged or maladjusted linkage
bands or clutches out of adjustment
faulty oil pressure control system (ie front pump)
faulty reverse clutch servo
loose valve body
dirty or sticking valves in valve body

My guess is a strut fell out.

 

I didn't drop it. I'm going with your valve body or reverse servo problem. I did replace the seal on the reverse servo...the first day I went to take the car out when I put it in reverse it leaked like 2 qts of fluid instantly. I found the o-ring on the servo cover was no good. I replaced it...and reverse was working for a little while. The servo was moving freely because I pushed it in and out.

 

Then the servo is not engaging the band and the strut has fallen into the pan. Time to pull the pan and take a gander.

 

Sounds like you're probably right...I'll drop the pan this week. Is it easy to put that strut back in? I assume the valve body needs to drop for that?

 

Sometimes you can get them in without pulling the vb, it depends. They can be a pain to get in there, one of those telescoping magnets can be helpful. It would be a good idea to let the trans drain for a day or two so you dont have fluid dripping on your head and in your eyes. To see where the struts go you will have to be directly under the trans with plenty of light.

I just looked to see if I had a pic with them in it, I dont. You should be able to tell what they are, and they are side specific, but they only go one way so you should be able to figure that out as well.