Has anyone had any issues with their back drive linkage hitting the header. I can only shift from Park to Neutral(console shift car) and when I try to go to Drive the back drive Rod that goes to the shifter lever on the transmission hits on top of the header, preventing me from shifting. the headers are made by Patriot, I installed before I received my back drive linkage which was missing on my car like many others. I know I need it to activate my reverse lights/neutral safety switch. my car is a 1972 LeMans with a 400 small block chevy, and TH350 tranny. Any help on this issue is greatly appreciated.
How's the trans. mount on cross member??? May have sagged if old & cause this problem, or your linkage you installed isn't correct. Is the SBC Chevy the right engine or was it a Blue block "poncho" in there originally? Possible wrong header for chassis also a thought!!! OH my head hurts now, too much thinking Pete
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What you're describing is very common. Many. maybe most, A body cars with headers don't have backup lights or a column lockout. I'm sure somebody has worked it out but a lot of guys just leave the back drive off.
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tigs69: Could someone please explain what the Reverse lockout linkage (Backdrive linkage) does. I have a 69 RS with a saginaw 4speed, 327ci we are putting back together after 16 years in the garage and can't find the lower rod. The steering colume locks fine. Is it some kind of safety feature or ??? Thanks for any info.
william: It was a federal mandate to help discourage auto theft. The car had to be Park [auto] or reverse [manual] in order to remove the key from the ignition.
The parts were fairly specific-Muncie stuff will not work on a Saginaw. In fact a Muncie SB used a different lower lock rod than a BB.
If you can't find the correct lower rod [3955767, same as used on a standard 3-speed floor shift] it should be fairly easy to fab one out of mild steel rod.
tigs69: Thanks for the response William. But I quit don't understand, I do not have that lower rod installed and my key comes out fine in any gear so I am way confused! ???
william: The lower collar on the column is rotated to the lock position. Rotate it clockwise with the key in the run position. Ignition switch will not go to the lock position and the key will not come out.
The lock out linkage usually got in the way of headers and was trashed. The collar was left in the lock position and the bulbs were taken out of the reverse lamps.
