Hello
I have a 39 chevy master 85 that is stuck in first gear, will not go in any other gear. I do have the repair manual but nothing on stuck in first. Anyone has any ideas on where I should start.

Does your 1939 Chevrolet have a floorshift or column shift???????

It is on the column

I would begin by disconnecting linkage at the transmission and see if it comes out of low at the trans, cover which is ON TOP of the trans. on a 1939,
If this is not the problem I would next check the various bushings in the shift linkage. Becareful as to what you do as the 1939 column shift and vacuumm parts fit 1939 only.

I agree with Gene. The 1939 column shift linkage is unique to that year. It actually is a complex mechanism that connects the lever on the column to the floor shift lever on top of the transmission. There are lots of pivot points and places where the linkage can wear. It is not a side shift transmission.

In 1940 Chevy introduced a side shift transmission that was shifted by a column linkage.

Thanks for all the replies, that fixed the problem for me.

I love it when a plan comes together.