Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1950 Dodge 3 speed transmission., shift levers, linkage problem

Question
Hi, I have a 1950 coronet with a 3 speed. It does not go into 1st or reverse. I am not sure if it is linkage problem or something else. Where should the levers on the side of transmission be for reverse and 1st. Thanks. Any good transmission websites?

Answer
The way that I diagnose these problems is to jack the car up and support it on stands. Then disconnect the linkage at the transmission. Now work the levers though the range of gears. When working the levers you should feel the detent inside the transmission lock into neutral in the middle of the range of movement and then lock into each end of the rang of movement. Then you can start the car up in each selected gear and slowly release the clutch watching the speedometer. It will tell you if you are in first, second, or third by the speed registered at idle. Of course reverse will show zero speed but a glance out the door looking at the wheels will tell if it is in reverse. Now that will check the transmission. Now shut it down and set the levers on the transmission in neutral. Then under the hood line up the shift levers so that they are in neutral, that is when pulling the gear shift lever towards the steering wheel will give you the feel of the neutral bar in the "H" shift pattern. Then using the adjusting nuts on the linkage set them so that the linkage will slip into the shift levers. If there is no excessive play in the linkage that will make it work correctly.
Brad