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1972 DODGE B-300 (360 eng. - auto trans problem) normseo @ yahoo.com

1972 Model DODGE B-300 (360 eng. - auto trans problem) - manufactured May 1971. I have been told that this is a model 727 transmission.

The transmission on my car seems to be failing catastrophically all of a sudden (with maybe 3 or 4 days' notice!). Suddenly I have no "REVERSE" gear. I park facing uphill in a slightly-sloping driveway. I back out of the driveway every morning.

A few days ago, it seemed to "stick" in reverse as I backed out, like the emergency brake was engaging as it rolled backwards, but I could pop it out of reverse and back again and drive out - or "rev" it and get it to move. I topped off the trans fluid (which often leaks to a low level) when this first happened so that is full now. It was OK for a few days.

This morning, it stuck several times while backing out of the driveway  and it was VERY difficult to back up. Now (after this morning's problem!) I can't get any "clunk" in reverse when I try to back out of the near-level place where it resides during the day. It won't move at all when I give it some gas in reverse - it is revving freely with no movement - it will not go backwards in reverse at all. Even stranger - if I put it into "PARK" and give it some gas, it tries to go "FORWARD" for some reason.

I get reasonable responses from the gears for "DRIVE" and "1" and "2" - just "REVERSE" is disconnected or inactive and "PARK" is behaving incorrectly. Could this be some kind of adjustment or "linkage" problem on a 35-year-old car to make "REVERSE" gear engage when I shift?

Do I need to rebuild or replace my trans entirely - or is there some smaller subset of parts I can replace to fix "REVERSE"????????  

Time for a rebuild.

Gary  

The forward clutch has probably welded itself together.
When reverse is selected it is trying to go forward and back up.
It probably drives forward in neutral as well.