Car won't go into gear
 

I installed the transmission in Barney(my barn find) and it won't go into gear. I put in a long throwout bearing because the scattershield moved the fork back to where it was hitting the floor of the body. Now with engine running, you can shift the transmission into any gear without depressing the clutch and the car will not move(like the transmissionis not even connected to engine). With engine off and transmission in gear, you can not push the car. Any ideas--please!!!!!

You need to use a short throwout bearing, the long one is keeping the pressure plate depressed (disengaged). To use the long or short is determined by the style of pressure plate you have. In addition, you may also have the wrong style fork.

ok, I'll try a shorter throwout bearing. Thanks, I just love dropping the transmission outta this thing.

Peek inside the bellhousing fork hole and see if the throwout bearing is in fact tightly sandwiched between the fork and pressure plate. I can't see how your fork could be pre-loading the bearing, but check to make sure anyway. I made the same mistake once, using the long bearing where it should have been the short. Oops!

OOPs is right. The clutch fork is tighter than ****'s hatband. Don't know why I didn't see that when it went togather. Gettin' old I guess.

You did put the fork onto the bearing correctly, as shown in the video? That can be another oops!

I did catch that oops (i'm so proud of myself). I checked the video and I did have it on wrong when I put it togather the first time. Ain't the internet swell ?!?!?!?!

Well, Mr. 69, you were right. I dropped the transmission and replaced the throwout bearing with a shorter one and now it shifts in and out of gear. Had to modify the floorboard with a shop hammer so the fork would clear but it worked. Now just gotta bleed the brakes (sounds easy, right?)and see if it will make it down the road and back to the garage. By the way, I installed a new alternator (with intergrated regulator and IT WORKS !!!!!! I assume it works (no lite or gauge) 'cause while the car was running, I diconnected the battery and it kept on running. Assuming that's how a Mallory ignition works. (it is, isn't it?) Any way, thanks for all the information. I feel like you need to send me a bill. I'm sure I'll have a lot more question. Riley

Use a multimeter and measure charging voltage across battery posts.
At a min, should be 13.8 volts, no accessories on, other than ignition.

they also have adjustable pivot ball i used one to stop the fork from hitting the floor on mine

The Saga Continues----on my '69 with the steel bellhousing, I removed the front block plate, installed new clutch disc , and adjusted the fork ball as far forward as possible and now the clutch fork is hitting the floor pan. Its almost like the bellhousing rose higher to hit the floorpan. It doesn't make any sense. Could the rear transmission rubber bracket be to tall? (it looks aftermarket). Any ideas???

also is there a way to check if the engine/transmission is sitting in it's proper angle?

If I remember, the trans isolator height is about 1.25 inches, maybe 1.5.
The trans crossmember has three holes in the flanges for an OE shifter.
These holes should be on the drvr side.
A quick check of angles is measure the driveline angles of both sides of the yokes at both ends.
There should less then 1° difference between the two ends.
The distance of the pivot ball from the engine side of b/housing should be 4.75 inches.
The correct fork ends in 638, I think.

Make sure you're using the correct clutch fork. There are bunches of different style GM forks that have different bends to them.
Using the wrong one can give you clearance issues, as well as affect the throw of the clutch: Pictures and Identification of GM Clutch release forks.

This is what I have come up with so far. The flywheel is an aftermarket 11" aluminum HARVEY, a worn out 11" clutch disc, stock 11"pressure plate and a fork out of a '76 Camaro with short throwout bearing and Lakewood bellhousing. Quite a circus. A friend is digging through his stash for a stock flywheel, bought a new stock 11" clutch disc, use the same pressure plate, ordered new fork (thanks for the ID chart of forks Mr.69) and new throwout bearing. Hopefully the Lakewood bellhousing will cover everthing up. Oh yeah, removed the enging block plate. NOW, maybe I can get some clearance on the fork-floorboard problem. And Everett, thanks for the geometry lesson. Some of it I actually figured out. Soon as I get this all put togather, "I'll be baaack!"