First of all, thanks to all of you who have provided hints and help getting my z bar/lower adjusment rod problem fixed. Car was running great for about 3 days but now it seems I cannot put the car into reverse. Clutch works for 1st through 4th gear but when I try to put it into reverse it is as if I have no clutch. I was at work when it happened, so I shut it down, put it in reverse, pushed the clutch in and it turned over fine and was able to use the gear to back out. I put it into first gear, no problem...tried to put it into reverse again with the engine running and it wouldnt go (grind) same as before.

Now I can't seem to even get the transmission into reverse with the engine off, like I did before. 10,000 dollar paperweight in my garage (again). Needless to say, this is getting frustrating. Any insight as to what may be the problem/fix?

First of all, thanks to all of you who have provided hints and help getting my z bar/lower adjusment rod problem fixed. Car was running great for about 3 days but now it seems I cannot put the car into reverse. Clutch works for 1st through 4th gear but when I try to put it into reverse it is as if I have no clutch. I was at work when it happened, so I shut it down, put it in reverse, pushed the clutch in and it turned over fine and was able to use the gear to back out. I put it into first gear, no problem...tried to put it into reverse again with the engine running and it wouldnt go (grind) same as before.

Now I can't seem to even get the transmission into reverse with the engine off, like I did before. 10,000 dollar paperweight in my garage (again). Needless to say, this is getting frustrating. Any insight as to what may be the problem/fix?

Unless the reverse shift shaft is broken, this sounds like a shifter related problem. Reverse has no syncro so it's just two gears pushed together by the reverse shift shaft.

Clutch adjustment is the other thing that can bite you but you seem to have that under control for the foward gears.

Clutch adjustment might be it...this didnt start until I put in the new rod. Would the wrong adjustment on the rod cause a problem?

Adjustment could cause a problem. Like Wally said, no syncro on reverse so it's going to be more difficult anyway. Sometimes mine won't go into reverse, I have to put it in another gear to move the gears some then it will go into reverse. Since you replaced the rod I would check the adjustment again.

Clutch adjustment might be it...this didnt start until I put in the new rod. Would the wrong adjustment on the rod cause a problem?

What it could mean is you are right on the ragged edge of the clutch adjusment, enough for a gear with a syncro, but not enough for reverse. Is the problem worse when the clutch is hot or all the time????

You need over 1.5 inches travel at the end of the clutch fork, after it contacts the fingers of the clutch. Center Force tech gave me that info and so far it has been spot on.

Thanks for the feedback, I think the adjustment is the issue, I have the day off tomorrow so I'll get under her and see what I can figure out. Bright side: by the time I get this all fixed I will have learned white a bit! I really appreciate all your help.