Won't move

[BoxCar Tom]

32 sedan will not move. Haven't driven it for about 4 - 5 weeks, battery went soft so charged it for two days. Now it cranks, starts and runs nice. Put it in reverse, won't move, put it in 1st gear, won't move. Won't move in any gear. Hand brake is off, checked no wheel chocks, Turned everything off, put it in neutral, hand brake off, got out, tried to push it, won't move? Trans feels normal positive in each position. There was a clunk when I first put it in reverse, which is not unusual in this car. Brakes are original mechanical, could they be locked up? This is a first for me. Any suggestions? Thanks,

[jimTN]

If you are saying the car is locked up and will not roll or let the engine turn when the clutch is let out, there is a problem in the transmission. Pull the cap, that is the part your shifter lever is in. Look for something caught in the teeth or the low/reverse gear and second/high sync. collar are both in gear at the same time. This could happen when shifter forks are bent, worn, shift lever end worn and so on. You should be able to see little teeth on both sides of the sync. collar and be able to slide the low/reverse gear back and forth with no resistance.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by BoxCar Tom

32 sedan will not move. Haven't driven it for about 4 - 5 weeks, battery went soft so charged it for two days. Now it cranks, starts and runs nice. Put it in reverse, won't move, put it in 1st gear, won't move. Won't move in any gear. Hand brake is off, checked no wheel chocks, Turned everything off, put it in neutral, hand brake off, got out, tried to push it, won't move? Trans feels normal positive in each position. There was a clunk when I first put it in reverse, which is not unusual in this car. Brakes are original mechanical, could they be locked up? This is a first for me. Any suggestions? Thanks,

[mhaim]

The ebrake locks all 4 wheels. Jack up car and see if wheels turn.

[ford38v8]

Tom, we don't have enough information to diagnose your problem. You should be able to diagnose it up to a certain point yourself, and give us more detailed info: Is there any different feel of the clutch? When you let the clutch out, does the engine want to die? Is there any abnormal sound or vibration that wasn't there before this happened? Any difference in engine speed at idle in gear as opposed to in neutral? Does any gear you put it in sound as if absolutely nothing is happening, or is there a sound or a different feel on the shift lever? When you try to push it, will it move even just an inch or two, or is it solidly immovable where it sits?
If your answers are good verifiable fact, we can get a much better idea of the issue without your having to dismantle any part of the car. There are several things that it could be, you don't want to go off in the wrong direction on the repair.

[ssffnomad]

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Yes , Jack up

[aussie merc]

sounds like wheel lock time to lift and spin each wheel in turn

[SUHRsc]

I'll come pick it up and MOVE it on a trailer back to my house! looks like a great car!

my 32 pickup has multiple times now gotten stuck in 2 gears and won't budge.... not sure whats worn and causing this. it doesnt even run but i try to push it around and end up having to take the trans top off and relocate the gears.

good luck!
Zach

[BoxCar Tom]

The clutch feels the same, feels normal. There is no abnormal sound or vibration that wasn't there before this happened. With the clutch depressed there is no difference in engine speed at idle in gear or in neutral. The trans shifts into each gear position as normal. I can feel it when it slides into reverse and it has the same feel when shifted into 1st. There is less feel when shifted into 2nd and 3rd. While in reverse when I let the clutch out and it starts to grab the engine starts to slow down and the car does not move. Same for 1st gear. It seems that if I continue to let the clutch out the engine will die or whatever is locked up will bust.

When i tried to push it, it would not budge, not even an inch, it is solidly immovable where it sits. It feels like the breaks are being applied or it is in gear.

I can't do anything tomorrow or Monday, prior commitments. First thing Tuesday I'll jack up the front of car, trans in neutral and see if the wheels spin. If the wheels turn then the trouble is in the trans. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know what happens.

[cas3]

its stuck in two gears...shift handle badly worn out, and or the 1/4" pin on the right side of the shift tower is all wallerd out

[deuce lover]

The clutch plate is stuck to the flywheel

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by BoxCar Tom

I can't do anything tomorrow or Monday, prior commitments. First thing Tuesday I'll jack up the front of car, trans in neutral and see if the wheels spin. If the wheels turn then the trouble is in the trans. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know what happens.

Nice patina...

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by BoxCar Tom

The clutch feels the same, feels normal. There is no abnormal sound or vibration that wasn't there before this happened. With the clutch depressed there is no difference in engine speed at idle in gear or in neutral. The trans shifts into each gear position as normal. I can feel it when it slides into reverse and it has the same feel when shifted into 1st. There is less feel when shifted into 2nd and 3rd. While in reverse when I let the clutch out and it starts to grab the engine starts to slow down and the car does not move. Same for 1st gear. It seems that if I continue to let the clutch out the engine will die or whatever is locked up will bust.

When i tried to push it, it would not budge, not even an inch, it is solidly immovable where it sits. It feels like the breaks are being applied or it is in gear.

I can't do anything tomorrow or Monday, prior commitments. First thing Tuesday I'll jack up the front of car, trans in neutral and see if the wheels spin. If the wheels turn then the trouble is in the trans. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know what happens.

Tom, I think your answers have eliminated all but the transmission being in two gears at the same time. Several previous posts have suggested that, and the reasons it can happen.

I can only hope you will take extra caution to preserve the interior of that great car while doing that job!

[51woodie]

When i tried to push it, it would not budge, not even an inch, it is solidly immovable where it sits. It feels like the breaks are being applied or it is in gear.

When it won't even move "an inch", wouldn't that mean the diff/axle is locked up? When my '46 is parked in 1st or reverse, I can rock it back and forth at least 3-4 inches.

[swedishsteel]

"Sat for 4 or 5 weeks"----time enough for brakes to rust to the drums? As others said--jack it up and see if the wheels turn.

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by deuce lover

The clutch plate is stuck to the flywheel

I don't think so.


"in reverse when I let the clutch out and it starts to grab the engine starts to slow down and the car does not move. Same for 1st gear. It seems that if I continue to let the clutch out the engine will die or whatever is locked up will bust."

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by Bob C

I don't think so.

I agree....clutch plate AIN'T stuck to flywheel!

Coop

.

[deuce lover]

Okay

[cas3]

He says he can feel the shift lever working proper. But ! you would be feeling the rails falling into the detents, which does not necessarily mean the gears have moved as intended. Its in two gears if it wont move

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by BoxCar Tom

The clutch feels the same, feels normal. There is no abnormal sound or vibration that wasn't there before this happened. With the clutch depressed there is no difference in engine speed at idle in gear or in neutral. The trans shifts into each gear position as normal. I can feel it when it slides into reverse and it has the same feel when shifted into 1st. There is less feel when shifted into 2nd and 3rd. While in reverse when I let the clutch out and it starts to grab the engine starts to slow down and the car does not move. Same for 1st gear. It seems that if I continue to let the clutch out the engine will die or whatever is locked up will bust.

When i tried to push it, it would not budge, not even an inch, it is solidly immovable where it sits. It feels like the breaks are being applied or it is in gear.

I can't do anything tomorrow or Monday, prior commitments. First thing Tuesday I'll jack up the front of car, trans in neutral and see if the wheels spin. If the wheels turn then the trouble is in the trans. Thanks for all the help. I'll let you know what happens.

I can't wait for Tuesday to come along to hear the results of that test.
Those front wheel drive '32 Fords are almost as scarce as hen's teeth!