TH400 Won't stay in park

[68Rivi_In_Cali]

68 Rivi, 455, th400 (3speed?) according to my 68 service guide, well right it should ony be 3 according to my center cosole shift (im not too good at trans work)

Ok the title says it all, now the transmission was rebuilt about 2 years ago and shifts fine and all but it never stayed in park. Didn't notice much but after my e brake was wearing out AND The fact that my car rolled out of my inclined driveway onto the street, I got the hint that something was wrong. I had the linkage adjusted but it still does it. It makes a clicking noise as it rolls. I can actually put it in park and push it.

So I did some research GOOGLE and the PARKING PAWL Seems to be the culprit. Now where can I buy one? local parts store? I swear if I say parking pawl, they will laugh and say what the hells that!

well it could be that it was installed, now do I have to remove the tran or can I just lower the pan and work on it like that?

Thanks guys!

[DaWildcat]

If the "locking" edge of the parking pawl is worn, another can be obtained at your local transmission shop...this isn't the kind of thing you'll find at an auto parts store.

Let's assume the linkage is adjusted correctly. Before you buy anything, drop the pan and take a look at everything. There's an actuator rod that pushes on the pawl, it's got a spring on the end of the rod. If that spring has a broken coil it may not push the pawl hard enough for good engagement. Just take a look at the parking linkage in general and see if anything seems out of the ordinary.

NOTE: One thing in particular by book mentions is that there are two types of pawl brackets, cast iron and stamped steel. While the cast bracket cannot be installed incorrectly, the stamped bracket must be reassembled into its original position for proper park engagement. You might have to experiment with this a bit if you think that's your problem.



Devon

[gsgns4me]

Check and make sure that the 2 bolts holding the bracket are tight also.

[frtlnrbuick]

Before doing anything inside the trans, I would recommend removing the manual linkage from the transmission.

Turn the shaft fully clockwise to engage park. If the trans will engage park the problem is a linkage adjustment. I see that you already have had the linkage adjusted, but to be safe this test will cost you nothing but a little time.

The parking linkage is very robust and not likely broken. Since you say it never worked after the rebuild, I will assume it was installed correctly at the rebuild and the adjustment of the linkage is at fault.

My $.02

Jim

[68Rivi_In_Cali]

Thanks for the input guys, I will check the linkage again before I drop the pan, Thanks for the picture also

[Howrad]

had the same problem with my column-shift riv a few years back.
the parking pawl bracket was out-of-whack.
i guess you could say they're "pawl-blematic".

[68Rivi_In_Cali]

Muahaha nice one, hey i'm still working on getting the Rivi Blog up, just got home from vacation, will then list the parts ive changed like the new rare parts centerlink and what not. Nice Rivi Pic, Burnout. I need a POSI in mine, For graduation I did a burnout that left a "tire mark" across the whole parking lot. ha one legged.

By the way V8TV updated their 68 riv progress, They are still collecting parts

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index....;topicseen#new

[Howrad]

i was wondering how that prom went. i've never used my backseat for its intended purpose, wonderin' if you'd... tried it out?
also, what happened with the paint?
you really should blog your build. i wish i would've, but now i'm down to horn buttons and power steering fluid... boring stuff. did you know that doing massive burn-outs all the time can drain your power steering fluid? i think thats what happened to me. impressing friends and getting the picture was worth it, tho.
anyway, get that blog up, i gotta see that paint and the $$$enterlink.
aight, goin to check up on that v8tv riv now, later!

[68Rivi_In_Cali]

prom went well but was better safe than sorry and used my parents durango, I know but I did'nt buy the Tires in time and te ones on my car are balder then the next bald guy. Workin on the Blog gathering and organizing pics.

I adjusted the links and what do you know the Park engages better than ever!
There is a small amount of play on the bracket but it holds, i'm still not so sure if I should leave it on the driveway now.

I had 2 different mechanics try to fix it and it took me only 5 minutes.

The 68 Service manual came in handy, I should just do all the work myself, I have the manual! Well thats what ive been doing.

For the paint, I went on vacation to Mexico so I had to push it back. The inner fenders were sanded down to bare metal and the rust was removed. I then applied rustbullet.

Now I am looking for a place that will sandblast my whole car, Some guy does it but in sections, I would have to take doors off, hood, fenders, etc and he would sand by hand what wont fit in the booth.

I want a full blasting, I know theres rust around the windshield, the last owner used silicone sealant caulking, Now I need a windshield because it's chipped and has a kind of short crack.

I'm planning on gutting the interior and fixing the floor pan because I can see rust coming through the custom carpet in the rear seat area. another hole I found was further infront of the driver side. I can only see it from under the car. I will probably gut it, sand blast it, then do most of bodywork, epoxy prime it, seal the bare metal, then leave it in black primer for now until I gather up funds for a paint job.

Also I am going to restore the rally wheels, sandblast the rear, real rusty, and repaint them.

Redo wiring, paint dash, new seat, black leather maybe?

Well yups

oh how would a Buick GSX repo Hoodtach look on a rivi? I was thinking of making concept drawings, I'm not so sure about a scoop, but Ive seen 2 rivis with em and they look pretty good, how about low pro ram air, Buick GS style?



Oh and the seat will be used the way intended! met an old girl-friend in Mex and she Diggs my old car since she loves the Drag races over there, she might visit, but hey Tonight I got a party to go to and everyones been asking about the Rivi, Now I can go and park it with no prob!

[DaWildcat]

Don't let anyone sandblast any of the exterior panels...it's a super quick way of distorting the sheetmetal if someone gets carried away.

Media blasting with baking soda or some other soft media is the way to go...not sand.

Devon

[68Rivi_In_Cali]

ok thanks, I knew there were other types but wasn't sure which to ask for, Thanks Thats what ive heard, some guy offers to do mine with walnut shells, That doesnt sound like soft media, Ill ask around but noone here in San Jose seems to do it,