I just bought a 1981 Camaro and put in a 350 small block. It is an automatic. I also had to put in a new ignition lock tumbler. I had the car running one day and the depressed the brake and the shifter button on the stick was very hard to depress and after I did and shift it into what should have been reverse, nothing happed and the shifter was still hard to move. Now its like the shifter is always in reverse, even though I manged to push the shifter back to the farthest position forward which should be park. It still seems to be in reverse because the back up lights are on and the key wont turn all the way back and come out. It has to be on the linkage because I used a hot wire to the switch on the starter to fire it up and it didn't go in reverse or move at all of that matter. Its like the linkage is rusted up or something. It was sitting in a barn for many years before I got it. I'm really confused.

It sounds like the cable has broken or has badly worn and the broken ends of the cable is digging into the ID of the plastic cable sheath.

Have you looked to see that the cable end is still connected to the tranny linkage? Sometimes this can loosen and the shift arm will move w/o actually shifting the tranny. Not too likely, but possible.

You need to get it safely up on redundant jack stands and take a closer look under the car to see what's up, IMHO.

 

I will check all the linkages on the side of the transmission tomorrow. If they are alright I guess I need to look for a new shifter.

 

I will check all the linkages on the side of the transmission tomorrow. If they are alright I guess I need to look for a new shifter.

Likely the shifter itself will be fine. You may need just a new cable.

If your shifter has the "positive stops" when upshifting manually from Low up to Second then Drive (you move the shift lever to the right), these shifters work real good.

If it's a 'regular' shifter that doesn't have the built-in stops (there were both kinds used), a new shifter might be a good idea.

 

can't shift

I had one that done something similar. Couldn't shift it or turn key. Somehow,I can't remember, I discovered you had turn the part of column where shifter would be if on column. Something would bind up if it was moved.

 

I had one that done something similar. Couldn't shift it or turn key. Somehow,I can't remember, I discovered you had turn the part of column where shifter would be if on column. Something would bind up if it was moved.

That is a good point!

The column collar (used on some columns) is connected to the linkage. If the linkage goes out of adjustment, this can cause problems, like ****** said.

You know, I cannot remember if my '81 Camaro had the collar that moved or not- but I believe it did.

On your '81, look at the end of the column under the hood- there you'll see the linkage connection that goes to the tranny. Follow this to the tranny, checking for problems.

 

Grab the column coller with your hand and turn it counter clockwise and the key will work . If you or someone eles installed headers on the car the linkage is more than likely unhooked .

 

When the motor was installed the headers were almost in a bind when I was bolting them back up, so they may have bent something??
I was wondering why there was a linkage on the column even though it is a floor shift, and the shifter does go to the side about 3/4 of and inch.

 

When the motor was installed the headers were almost in a bind when I was bolting them back up, so they may have bent something??
I was wondering why there was a linkage on the column even though it is a floor shift, and the shifter does go to the side about 3/4 of and inch.

Yay! You gotcha the good factory shifter!

Seriously, they do work good, just need to be adjusted right- just like ANY shifter, for that matter.

The headers wouldn't fit- period- w/o the linkage removed, but the collar- if turned CW (like ayers1981 said) can fool the ignition lock into thinking the tranny is in gear and will prevent the engine from starting because of the neutral safety switch, and can prevent the key from being turned to "LOCK", etc.

Just be sure the collar is rotated all the way CCW and you'll not have any problems w/it.

But the basic problem you are having w/the shifter is still likely the cable. Replacements are available from the parts houses. O'Reilly (and other stores) carries Pioneer cables. These are good cables, IMHO.

Pioneer Inc. - Transhift Cable
Part Number: CA1103
$39.99/ea.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for all the help. I will replace the cable and rotate the collar today or tomorrow if I have time.

 

Shifter.....

HI,if you replace the shift cable,go to a chevy dealer and buy an OEM cable.i bought 3 cables from Advance,Pep boys and Napa,and none worked. OEM was good.

 

I just tried to rotate the collar, it won't budge in either direction. I haven't been able to crawl under the car yet, but when I installed the motor the transmission was raised up and down a lot with a jack because I left the old trans in the car. If I remember correctly the shifter used to would shift after I installed a new key lock, but that was before I removed the engine.

 

I just tried to rotate the collar, it won't budge in either direction. I haven't been able to crawl under the car yet, but when I installed the motor the transmission was raised up and down a lot with a jack because I left the old trans in the car. If I remember correctly the shifter used to would shift after I installed a new key lock, but that was before I removed the engine.

I believe the key has to be turned away from "LOCK", to "RUN" for the collar to rotate. And the shifter out of "PARK".

 

I turned the key to the run position and put the shifter into what would be neutral. Still won't budge. The orange shift position indicator is right above R, but not close to P.

 

I turned the key to the run position and put the shifter into what would be neutral. Still won't budge. The orange shift position indicator is right above R, but not close to P.

Kinda hard to say what the deal w/the collar is, w/o getting a look at it from underneath.

If you get under it, be real careful to use jack stands and a floor jack under the side you jack up- you need two separate things that are able to support the car's weight before climbing under it.

Would it start in gear before the tranny cable took a dump? There's a chance that the collar's linkage at the bottom of the steering column (you can see the linkage under the hood) has been wired up to keep it in the "PARK" position. IIRC, in this position it will start in gear.

If not, it might be just because the cable is hung up.

 

It never would start in gear, but when it was running I tried to shift it into reverse and it wouldn't budge, so I pulled it kind of hard then the back-up lights came on and now they won't go off.

 

Sounds like bad cable or bound up(rust) column collar linkage(and possibly both) are the problem. If you can move the shifter but nothing else changes then it points right at those two parts. Fairly common problem.

 

I will replace the cable tomorrow, its not too expensive, it won't hurt to do anyway. But the base of the column where the linkage is, is in very good condition with no rust.

 

I will replace the cable tomorrow, its not too expensive, it won't hurt to do anyway. But the base of the column where the linkage is, is in very good condition with no rust.

Not so much a rust problem with the column, but that "back drive" linkage from the trans up to the column gets rusty at its pivot points. Just clarifying my earlier post.

Sounds like you are on the right track, you now know what to look for.

IIRC and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like both the neutral safety switch and the back-up light switch are up under the dash on the column, and are both connected to that rotating column collar. Or is the back-up light switch on the shifter??

 

Not so much a rust problem with the column, but that "back drive" linkage from the trans up to the column gets rusty at its pivot points. Just clarifying my earlier post.

Sounds like you are on the right track, you now know what to look for.

IIRC and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like both the neutral safety switch and the back-up light switch are up under the dash on the column, and are both connected to that rotating column collar. Or is the back-up light switch on the shifter??

I seem to remember it being part of the neutral switch if I'm not mistaken.

I actually went out and looked at an old shifter identical to his- and see no switch attached to it...

 

There is no switch of any kind on the shifter, its just the shifter and cable.

 

I just installed a new cable and fixed the shifting problem, now the shift indicator works also. A new problem has arisen, when I shift it into drive or any gear for that matter, nothing happens... I really don't think the trans is bad, because the motor spun a bearing and that usually means the trans is still good.

 

I just installed a new cable and fixed the shifting problem, now the shift indicator works also. A new problem has arisen, when I shift it into drive or any gear for that matter, nothing happens... I really don't think the trans is bad, because the motor spun a bearing and that usually means the trans is still good.

First thing to check is the fluid level w/the engine running.

 

Would the fluid make it not move even if I manually put it in 1st gear?

 

Would the fluid make it not move even if I manually put it in 1st gear?

Low fluid will make the tranny have a "neutral" in EVERY gear.

Start the engine and walk around to the passenger side and check the tranny fluid w/the engine still running. Just like you would the oil- but w/a running engine.

 

I fixed the problem, the fluid was a little low, so I changed it and the filter was extremely dirty with some gunk in the pan. So I put on a new gasket and filter and cleaned the pan.