Reverse goes forward?
 

When I have my car in reverse gear it goes forward. Any one have that happen to them. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
Jason

Jason,

Did this just start happening?
Has the transmission been out of the car, or have the shift bushings been replaced?

Could be something has slipped and you are actually getting the next gate when you are seeking reverse.

Les

Did 72 have the dogleg 901 transmission?

It started happening about a month ago. It was working fine before. I have never taken the trans out but I don't know if the previous owner did. I replaced the bushings a few years ago. I will see if those are warn again. It seems to rub in the bushings area when shifting from 1st to 2nd.

My reverse is all the way to right and back. Is that the 901 dogleg?

When it goes forward is it really sluggish like you're in 4th gear? Might be loose and out of adjustment putting you in 4th instead of reverse.

Okay if it was working fine, then it's not a 901 (has reverse where 1st is on newer tranny)

Thought maybe car was new to you, and '72 is start of newer shift pattern

901 has reverse top left, down to 1st

Perhaps someone is playing a trick on you and flipped your ring gear? How many gears go in reverse?

Check the shift coupler between the rear seats. I would be willing to bet the cone screw is loose. The shift rod has moved enough to throw off the pattern.

Adjust the shifter rod back to normal and tighten the set screw, using a drop of thread locker this time.;)

Reverse is probably still there, but you have to be able to select it.

Sounds like excessive wear in one or more shift linkage bushings. There are three bushing areas. Bottom of shift lever, front of shift tube and shift coupler. Remove the access cover in the rear tunnel and wiggle the shift lever while observing the shift tube. If you don't see the shift tube move in concert with the shift lever, go to the threads that discuss and demonstrate how to replace them.

Hope this helps,
Sherwood

Could also be the adjustment of your shift forks, which luckily could be rectified with the trans still in the car. As I understand it, the shift fork tries to grab two gears at a time, resulting in the 1st versus Reverse situation. We had originally thought that this was the problem with my car, but in my case, I had cracked second gear in half.

Hopefully, someone on this board will be able to provide a better explanation than my feeble attempt.

Most likely you have 1 for Reverse and 3rd where 1st was.

The Bushings are only Plastic and wear out easily if the Set Screw is not loose like the above person described.

Remove the 4 screws on that inspection Cover and see if you have either play from the Entire assembly loose on the SHaft or the Bushing out which allows the Shifter lever to move more but not in the transmission.

I am betting on this!

Ok it was the bushings under the shifter. I had replaced the cup one a few years ago but not the doughnut looking one cuz it was ok at the time. Man is that one hard to put in. I had to heat it up in a cup of water and push it in with a screw driver. It really really improved my shifting. Much smoother less sloppiness. So I guess it was going into fourth before instead of reverse. Thanks for your help everyone.

Sweet!!