Reverse problem??

okay i have 87 gt i finally got it running after sitting for 2 yrs. went for test drive today and everything went well except for it wont go in reverse. it is a 5 speed. is there some kind of sensor that needs to get power or something to let me put it in reverse? thanks in advance for help
 
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okay i got the clutch as tight as it will go and still same problem. i have been told i probably broke the shift fork. does anyone know how hard it is to rebuild these trannys or have a good how to? as far as mechanical knowledge i have built plenty engines but never a tranny.
 
there are a couple of t5 rebuild videos out there... hanlonmotorsports had one of them. YOu can get a free manual from tremec as a download for the t5. they're simple as cake. All you need are snap ring plyers, dial indicator and a press. If you don't want to buy a press..you could likely take it to a local shop and pay them a couple of bucks. 90% anyhow can be assembled and disassembled without a press.

sounds like an internal issue to me. Pull the trans down and yank the lid and tail shaft. Inspect the forks. I would think that your forks are fine, or you'd have an issue going into 5th too.

It's likely an issue with the reverse lever/shift rail inside.

However, before you pull anything, get a torquex bit on the bolt on the dr side top of the trans. This is the reverse sensing switch for the reverse lights. On occasion, the little ball in that switch will seize, and keep you from going into reverse. You can pull it out and be safe to try getting into reverse with it running. Just don't drive it like that, or you'll lose fluid.

It very well could be the reverse ball/switch
 
okay i got the plug almost all the way out. the car will shift into reverse now but won't drive in reverse. i also don't have 5th with the plug out as far as it is. if i tighten back up i have 5th but then can't put in reverse. do i need to take the bolt all the way out and see if that changes it?
 
that's really, really strange. that bolt is nothing more than a bolt with a ball bearing in the end of it. it shouldn't make a damned difference at all with it out...especially with 5th.

You may have to pull the t5 out..perhaps the clip fell off of the 5th/reverse lever and the lever isn't fully on it's shaft anymore. could be a real easy fix. If you're even somewhat mechanical, i'd highly suggest doing the work yourself.
 
I goofed..do NOT pull it all the way out. tighten it back up.

the thing you want to thread out is below that. that screw actually holds on the reverse lever itself..if you pull it all the way out, then the reverse lever could fall in.

what you want to do is pull out the backup switch. it's right below that, and is the unit with the harness coming off of it. looks like it would take a 7/8 wrench. THAT is what freezes and hangs up, and that's what you want to loosen up.

this is what you're dealing with, and sorry for the crappy pictures.

this is an internal shot of your trans. this is the reverse lever on the dr side of the trans. the shaft on the upper right is the bolt you are loosening. this will loosen the entire shaft..you don't want that. Do you see the check ball on the bottom?? Those lock up and seize over time. This is very likely your issue. thread out that check ball, which is the reverse switch...and see if that doesn't fix the issue. All that that checkball does is depress in when you go into reverse. when the ball depresses in, that turns the reverse lights on.

t5%20reverse%20switch%20internal.jpg


external shot. the top bolt is the one you want to TIGHTEN. the bottom one down and slightly to the right is the one you want to loosen

t5%20reverse%20switch.jpg
 
You are gonne have to open up the trans. Only way i see you really fixing this. Getting the shifter into reverse, but not having a reverse means something is really messed up insde the trans
 
well with the reverse switch out it shifts into reverse fine now but doesn't engage anymore in 5th or reverse since i took out that hex bolt. i assume taking that bolt out loosened those forks and now they aren't on so i guess i am going to have to drop it and just see what is going on. thanks for the help though i will let you know what i find once i drop the tranny.