I just completed my project of installing a newly rebuilt th350 w/ transbrake to go along with my 383 stroker motor. When trying to take the car out for the first time, I found the trans would not go into reverse. The shifter can shift to the reverse position but nothing, not even a drop in engine idle. I seem to have the foward three gears. I need to add that the project took awhile so the tranny sat for about 8 months. Any ideas on what it could be and what I could do?

 

Id put the car in the air while you have the shifter in reverse and disconnect the cable from the shift linkage to see that the linkage is fully in the reverse position. Just to double check this isnt the problem.

 

you may need to press the T Brake button for reverse to apply.

 

^^^

Thats what i was going to say.

The transbrake uses reverse to lock up the tranny, so something could have gone goofy with that and is causing this issue.

 

I tried holding the transbrake while in all gears and nothing happens. I'll try raising the car, disconnecting the linkage, and try shifting the tranny at the tranny to see if the linkage is the problem. I hope it is because I don't want to take off the pan. That's foreign territory to me.

 

if your holding the button the trans should lock....with the key on and engine off hit the button, you should here a "click" and see your volt gauge drop. if not your solenoid is not working or getting power / ground. pro tree trans brakes need the button pressed to engage reverse, i`m not sure which you have though.

 

I tried pressing the transbrake in all gears and nothing happens. I'll check to make sure that I have elec power at the solenoid when the button is depressed. My worry is that, if the transbrake and shifter get access to the reverse circuit independently, then both will have to be malfunctioning to not have reverse. Assuming that this in unlikely, that can only mean that I have a stuck valve or something inside. Anyway, I'm going to check everything outside the trans before I contemplate going inside. I'm not confident that the problem is outside so I hope there's someone on this site that knows the inner workings of a th350 because I'm gonna need help.

 

You guys were right. There was a blown fuse on the circuit that the transbrake is on. Changed the fuse and the brake worked. Held the button when in reverse and reverse worked. Thank you very much for you help.

 

cool man, glad to hear it!