The linkage on the manual 3 speed column shift are frozen after 20 years+ of storage

Asked by Tim_J57 Oct 28, 2016 at 07:52 PM about the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Hardtop Sport Coupe RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have been spraying all the joints with liquid wrench and w-d 40 several times
over the last couple of weeks and I can finally move the shifter from 2nd to
3rd but with a great deal of effort. The shifter will not pull back to go into 1st
and reverse. Could it be in the steering column or inside the transmission?

F_O_R answered 7 years ago

To answer your question - Yes! A car that old could mean that a lot of things are wrong. Keep working on the shifter but you might want to disconnect the shifter from the transmission and try shifting it by hand under the car.

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Tim_J57 answered 7 years ago

Thanks! I'll give that a try tomorrow! Oh, and yes, there are a lot of things wrong but it's all there with good glass and trim. I imagine that all 235 engine parts will need to be rebuilt or replaced. Labor of love. Floor pan is gone too. Going to learn to weld

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