VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 54 Chevy Powerglide won’t go into reverse

Just off a week tour, about 1000 miles total. Pulled the car out on the driveway to wash it finished up and tried to back it into the garage and there is nothing there. Just sat. Put in drive drove down the street turned around and parked it in the garage. Warmed up the engine, put in park to check the transmission fluid, down about a quart. Added a quart while still running, now down about a 1/4 but nothing happens whe I put it in reverse. Drive and low work. Any ideas?
Thanks, Frank

Don't check the fluid in park. The pump doesn't run in park. Put it in neutral and check the level. With the fluid actually circulating you might find your level low.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/54om24.htm

Tiny
Sorry for the confusion. I did check it in neutral with the parking brake on. After adding a quart I’m now about a 1/4 down but no change to engaging reverse. Is there a mechanical place to look?
Thanks, Frank

I would almost bet that the reverse band is broken.

Reverse band broke or the link - would bet on it.

Thanks for pointing me in a direction. I have a call with Bill the owner of Russ Moore Transmission in Fort Wayne Monday. He does the vintage cars. Helps me to understand where I am heading. I’ll let you know what I find out.

The 54 is back from Russ Moore. Bill the original owner did the work on it. He said it was probably over time caused by the high idle. If you start cold and drop it into reverse over time the linkage will break. Interesting I back the car into the garage and most parking spaces so that helps prolong the band but still over time causes problems. So the next question is how to lower the idle and yet not stall?

Did Bill say if the reverse link was an original? I may be incorrect but i I think there was a design update . In 1963 in high school shop class I repaired 5 powerglide transmissions and all were for reverse problems. I believe the problem was a design flaw. If your idle speed is at the factory recommended RPM I would not lower it further but be sure that when shifting into reverse you are stopped and at idle.

The 1955-57 did not have the reverse problem. 1958 was worse than ever in breaking the band link. Chevrolet cane out with a much heavier link.... It broke also. Then they dscovered the link breaking was by high pressure to the reverse piston devised a way to decreas the pressure to the reverse piston.At that time the extra heavy link was sold for 1950 and up transmissiomns,
The cold idle speed can be reduced by bending the little rod the pulls up the fast idle cam on the Carb. linkage.

Based on our conversation, I would say the reverse link was original.