Hello, my name is nate, just bought a 78 camaro for $2250, im from Michigan and im 24 last year of undergraduate school before i go to grad for history.

I do have a few questions regarding these cars, my friend has a 76 camaro he got me into these, im also part of a gbodyforum.com as i own a 86 monte carlo.

My question regards this: When I bought it 2 weeks ago I had it running as well as seeing it as the guys house running, but i noticed the linkage is really hard, I mean hard I have to push with almost all my might just to get it in gear, and now I cant even get the car to start even if I hold the ignition to on and go through the gears, Anyone have any sort of idea? I hear the linkage can get quite loose on these cars,and the ignition module perhaps could have went out on it. The car is going to the bodyshop to have the quarters and floors reassed. The rear frame, and trunk are in excellant condition, its the only reason I bought the car, in michigan most of the frames on these cars are rotted to hell. Anyways nice to meet everyone.

http://centralmich.craigslist.org/cto/1976978931.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-...item20b4042be7

 

Need some more info. Is this linkage the clutch linkage or the throttle lionkage? If it's the clutch, then it's got a neutral switch and that may be broken. You can check by jumpering the switch which I believe is on the clutch pedal assembly under the dash.

 

is the shifter **** still off? with a stock auto shifter you need to push the button down (lol just had to say). maybe from sitting so long the shifter cable is seized?

 

Welcome, where from in Michigan? You do need to elaborate a little. Your back drive linkage could be out of adjustment. There is a collar around the colume that is attached to a rodd that goes down to the tranny. Every time you put it in gear the collar moves, with an auto this also moves the indicator in the dash, try to grab the collar a rotate counter clockwise. Its at the base of the colume were it meets the dash.

 

Yeah I was up in Canada all weekend beautiful country hoping i might be able to move there someday too. Anyway, the car is an automatic 3 speed. The shifter is very stiff, cant seem to get the car into L1 or L2 gears.

Also the cars needle shifter indicator isnt currently hooked up to the linkage either it wont move. I suppose I could try the collar idea though you guys are mentioning.

 

I tried to turn the collar but it wont budge neither clock wise or counter clock so waht does that mean, is it jammed or the shifter linkags out of adjustment you think guys?

 

I might just be adjusted correctly.

 

If it's a column shift, you should disconnect the linkage to see if the shifter moves freely and that will let you know if it's in the column or the linkage.
If it's a floor shifter you can open the console up and disconnect the cable to check the shifter travel. Then you can also disconnect the cable from the transmission and check that the cable is free inside it's sleeve. Often salts and grime get inside the cable and it gets sticky or stiff.

 

its a floor shift, I did take it apart to some degree its very grimey and oily, I sprayed some PB blaster in there and it seemed to help for a little bit before it finally stopped working. Perhaps then i need a new cable then, how much would the new linkage lines and what not run if I have to have the bodyshop do it any idea, i cant find it in the classic industries magazine i have? The car is going to masterbody shop here in a week plan to spend about 4,000 on it to get it in tip top condition as i said before good frames and overall an ok car

 

#C-0854-2B at National Parts Depot for $29.95

http://npd.dirxion.com/WebProject.as...oa10flx&from=2