I can't find reverse on my tranny. I have a '54 3600 which should be the 3-speed manual. However, all 4 positions in the "H" pattern move me forward. I can't find a 5th position, so I don't think the tranny has been swapped for the 4 speed. What is the shift pattern for the 3 speed? What would cause reverse to move forward? Thanks!!!
Is your shifter on the floor or on the column? If it is a 3 sp, it should be a column shift. If 4 sp, it should be a floor shift.
reverse i have a 3 speed and pull straight to left toward driver side then down toward back of truck. thats how mine works should go into reverse
It's on the floor, but I thought these were 3 speed, as well for that year. The 4-speed was optional on the 3/4 ton, I think.
Like Ron said, with truck in neutral, move the shifter all the way to the left as far as it will go and then down. If you had forward gears in the standard "H" pattern, my guess is that you have a 4 sp.
So, where is "R" in a 4 spd? I can only engage 4 gears and they all go forward. It doesn't feel like I can move the shifter any farther to the right to get another gear.
According to that, far left and down would be 1st gear on the 3 spd, which is contrary to two separate posts above. There is a ton of play in my shifter. Maybe the shaft needs tightened up or something. If it was too loose, I could see how maybe it wouldn't move the fork all the way to one side or the other.
Remember now that the 3 sp shift pattern shown in that diagram is based on a column shifter. Here's another link that might help. http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyowner/54tom09.htm
sm420 IIRC all AD 3200 and 3600 trucks came with the sm420 (or 320?) granny gear 4 speed floor shift. Unless they came hydramatic in 54 like some of the 3100s. Reverse should be way over to the left and down. All gears in H are forward gears. Jim
Yep, I figured it out. I feel dumb. It was way left and down, had to give it a little muscle to get it over there. When you're in the neutral position inside the "H" pattern, the stick wiggles around with little resistance, but when you move it left to put it in reverse, it kind of feels spring loaded or something. If I knew how the inside of a tranny worked, it would probably be obvious. Thanks for the help!
So Chicklin, you've got a 4 speed? Is that what I'm hearing? No need to feel dumb. We learn on this forum. We don't judge, we help out. Do us 2 favors. First, tell us who you are (first name is fine) and post pics.
Well, I introduced myself here (including pics): https://talk.classicparts.com/showthread.php?t=8954 First name's Clayton and I live in Platte City, MO, about 15 minutes from the Classic Parts headquarters, which is nice. LMC and another that I can't remember are all based in KC, so there seems to be a plethora of classic Chevy parts around here. I've rebuilt a couple military vehicles in the past, so the abundance and price of parts is a nice change.
Oh, almost forgot, yes it's a 4 speed. A nice surprise as I believe this was an option (not standard) in 1954 even on the 3/4 ton, right? I think the 1 tons and up had a 4 speed standard.
Hey Clayton! Welcome aboard! Word to the wise! Being that close to CP and LMC is really cool but it can be a curse too. Remember this always. Most parts you find today are reproductions and most vendors sell the same part. Pick a vendor who will not only have it readily available, but who is willing to work with you if that cheap Chinese crap doesn't fit or work right on your truck. CP, our host, is the best I've dealt with. Again, welcome, and have fun and learn with us!
Clayton : You have an SM420 tranny , made by Muncie , lots of parts available . Chevy Duty , the host if this fine site , has terriffic customer service and the lowest price I've found on the standard Chinese re=pop parts *but* they also carry ther terrible , USELESS Chinese rubber ! it's NO GOOD and will rot away in a year or so , for rubber , go to Steele Rubber products , they have an OnLine catalog and make the very best rubber stuff for pretty much all old cars , right here in the good old U.S. of A. Buy an owner's manual for your truck ($6.00) , the shop manual ($29.95) and the assembly manual too , and then USE THEM as 95 % of thwe what do I do typ questions are right in those books , if they're clean and pristine , you're not using them..... That's what re-pop books are for ~ looking at how it goes back to-gether etc.
Yep, I've got all three of those books already. Very handy, but I couldn't find the shift pattern in them. I'm somewhat familiar with the SM420, so it's good to know that's what's in there.
Owner's manual Is the one that clearly shows how to find reverse... What kinda Military rigs ? I've had a few way back when , miss them ..
Earlier this Spring I restored a 1968 M715 Kaiser Jeep 5/4 ton pickup. Awesome project, ton of fun. Very cool truck, but I ended up selling it and bought an M35A2, otherwise known as a deuce-and-a-half. It should arrive this Thursday. I'm pretty excited about that one. I'd like to pick up an M274 mechanical mule some day, but they are kind of expensive for what you're getting.
