[chantel]

Just found this out tonight,My 1966 Chevelle will not go into 3rd gear and had to slam it in.It is a 396 with the 4 speed.My husband removed the the fill plug to check the fluid level and it is full.I was moving beside my 1971 Chevelle.Going to the shop tommorrow morning,a transmission shop I know very well.What could it be?I don't work on them and don't touch them.It was restored a couple years ago and transmission was rebuilt during the restoration.I think whom rebuilt the transmission did not put it together right.My husband and Father say it is a syncro that is broken or the wrong fluid is used.They both checked it out and said this.Did this while moving it running

 

[TomO69]

Your linkage could be binding up. Can one of you get under the car and watch the linkage while the other shifts through the gear. (while the car is NOT running haha). You might need to adjust the linkage, replace the plastic bushings or just put a little lubricant on the bushings. Hope this helps I've had problems like this in the past - not a huge deal.

 

[chantel]

My father is going to try that tommorrow morning,going to his shop first.He is going to be the one working on it since he knows I do get mouthy if one scratch is found by me.My father knows what fluid the transmission takes too and has the bushings on hand in his toolbox.

 

[MEJ1990TM]

My thinking is it's either the synchro ring, or it has synthetic oil. From the brief description I am initially thinking it's the oil. Muncies do not like synthetic oil. Not at all. When the M22 in the '70 was run with synthetic it caused a block out type condition when down shifting. It would also grind a little bit at times when up shifting. You could forget about trying to shift without using the clutch. It would chatter pretty much every time. Down shifting into second gear was the worst. That is how I usually end up testing the four speeds I've put together before I get into shifting them hard. The way I figure if I can shift them without using the clutch ,and they don't grind, they are good to go.

If the shifter was out of adjustment it wouldn't make it any more difficult to shift. It would really screw up the neutral gate though. If it is really out of adjustment it could keep it from going into whichever gear was being affected.

Does it grind at all?

 

[chantel]

Grinds a little bit and my father thinks the wrong oil is used too.When my husband checked the fluid level,looked like synthetic engine oil.It is in my father's enclosed car trailer now.

 

[Tom Mobley]

has it ever worked right since it was built?

Depending on what shifter it has one of the arm that bolt to the side of the tranny might be on upside down or something similar. best to inspect from underneath while works the shifter from inside.

 

[chantel]

I bought the car after it was restored and it acted a little bit at first.I did get the bad news,took it to a transmission shop that know Muncies very well.My father removed the drain plug and pieces of the sycro ring came out.Someone cobbled this one up when putting it together,3rd gear sycro ring and syncro are junk.Found missing parts too.It is in good hands now,the transmission shop it is at takes their time putting things back together and double checks everything.Parts will be in Thursday including the special fluid and know I don't want any dings and scratches.This shop knows what synthetic fluid does to Muncies.Showed me a 3rd gear syncro ring and syncro welded together too.

 

[TomO69]

Sorry I underestimated the problem. My dad has a 67 chevelle and I have a 69 chevelle ,both have muncies, and a few weeks after we installed the shifters we both had issues with the linkage binding (mine wouldn't go into 3rd and my dads wouldn't come out of 2nd) - we adjusted them and haven't had problems since. I was hoping you would have a quick/easy fix like we did.

 

[chantel]

The mechanic,Patrick was not to happy when he tore it apart.the syncro ring for 3rd gear was not the right one.Someone made it work by taking a die grinder removing material.Way too much silicone was used too,found pieces of this in some of the bearings.The speedo gear was stripped too and the speedo never worked also.I am impressed with this shop and took a tour,have a room just for assembly that is clean free of dirt and grime.Told the owner give me a call,gave him my cell number and I will pay him on the spot.I plan on talking to the guy I bought my 1966 Chevelle from to find out whom put the transmission together.

 

[MEJ1990TM]

Wow. Whoever did this must have been an idiot. Muncies are the easiest of all the four speeds to work on. As a guy I know described it, "A guy could put a Muncie together in a dark closet."

Just out of curiosity, what is the mechanic charging to go through the transmission? I'm wondering where this lies compared to what I charge to go through a four speed.

 

[chantel]

Since the owner knows my father very well,charging me $100.00 plus the price of parts.Gave me a good deal on this and impressed me.This shop has been very careful knowing it is one of my babies,put a cover over the seat and old bed sheet on the floorboard on the driver's side.This is their policy I agree with.Even an old bed sheet over the drivers side door.This shop even agrees with one of my back window stickers,the little boy urinating on the Ford emblem and are Chevy fanatics themselves.Talked to the guy I bought the car from last night and told me his nephew put it together that is not mechanically inclined

 

[MEJ1990TM]

That's good you are getting it taken care of. I can't fathom what would make someone take a grinder to a synchro ring to make it fit. What a moron. Makes you wonder what else this genius jerry rigged into the gear box.

 

[chantel]

Hopefully I get it back tommorrow and that is when the parts come in.This shop does everything everything right the first time and put a 6 month warranty on it.I will be getting a case of the special fluid too made for the Muncie.Told my father about it and said this cobbler whom did this should have his tools taken away.

 

[MEJ1990TM]

I don't know as there is any designated special gear oil for a Muncie. I just use plain old Valvoline 80W90. But I agree with what your father said. After someone who knows what they are doing gets done with it your four gear should be good to go. Muncies are pretty easy to work on and diagnose.

 

[mrpaticular]

The nylon linkage bushings I would replace with steel. A little grease now and then. Nylon can wear and cause problems shifting.

 

[chantel]

I got it back today,shifts great.The nylon linkage bushings were replaced with steel.Paid total of $500.00 to get it redone again.Even the speedometer works too and the transmission was painted the right color when it came from the factory.I did give a good thank you gift,this shop likes to have a beer after working hours.I bought a 12 pack of bud and busch light which they did put in their refrigerator.

 

[MEJ1990TM]

They never painted Muncies from the factory. It's good that it works now. Was $500 for the R&R, and the rebuild?

 

[Tom Mobley]

sounds like a pretty decent deal to me.

 

[MEJ1990TM]

Sounds like it. Takes a couple hours for the R&R, and probably around four hours for the tear down/re-assembly depending on how well they cleaned everything up. Then add in parts.

 

[chantel]

It was the removal and rebuild including installation.Painted to show it was rebuilt and this shop stands behind their work.No silicone was used this time,the gaskets from the kit were used.