Won't move

[Tinker]

My 38 sat for 40 yrs and luckly ran and drove fine. Since, rebuilt the motor and went over things. Not sure time is the issue. But motors and cars need to run. Run it.

[glennpm]

I agree with Deuce lover that the clutch is stuck to the flywheel.

Start and warm up the engine, shut it off. Now shift into first gear and start it in gear without engaging the clutch.

This happened to me years ago. I took it to an old timer's garage and he instructed me in this. Worked like a charm!

Glenn

[vincent]

No matter if clutch is stuck (it is not) or tranny is stuck in two gears or diff is broken/stuck - there is always a little play between all the gears and pinions between engine and rear wheel. So whatever is blocking the car it should still be movable an inch or two when trying to push forward/rearward. The only thing that will lock it solid without any possible movement are the wheels. So first of all I would check the wheels.

[glennpm]

"The only thing that will lock it solid without any possible movement are the wheels. So first of all I would check the wheels."

Yes, if there is zero movement, likely the brakes.

[BoxCar Tom]

Monday morning, I'm anxious for tomorrow to go figure out what's the problem. The shift pattern is normal, lever shifts into each position with ease, no notches or drag. The car responds to each gear but does not budge. Example, reverse, let the clutch out, it starts to grab, the car lifts up toward the rear. 1st gear, let the clutch out, it starts to grab, the car lifts up toward the front. Same with 2nd and 3rd gears, but softer grab and lift. That tells me the trans is doing what it is supposed to do but the car doesn't budge, I'm thinking the brakes are locked up.

So yes I can't wait till tomorrow so I can jack the front of the car up, IN NEUTRAL, HAND BRAKE OFF, to see if the wheels turn or are the brakes locked. Same with the rear, I hope the brakes are the problem, the last thing I want is mess with the trans.

Yes Alan, Under normal conditions, front wheel drive '32 Fords are all around us, all you have to do is put the car in reverse, as you let the clutch out look out the back window and start driving. Lots of laughs. Lets hope I get back to "normal" conditions.

[kurt v]

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Do you have the emergency brake on ?

[Pat/Ohio]

The "suspense" is killing me!! Can't wait until tomorrow! lol

Stay Safe!
Pat

[RalphInCA]

This is the most exciting thing going on in my life right now.

Don’t let us down! Can’t wait till tomorrow.

(I live a pretty quiet life LOL)

[V8COOPMAN]

.

GUYS...(You know WHO you are)...I won't name names!

The clutch disc AIN'T STUCK to the flywheel! I KNOW that two of you's guys SHOULD KNOW BETTER!

For the engine to be able to start and run, the CLUTCH Pressure Plate must also turn, as it's bolted to the flywheel. With clutch pedal in the "UP" position, the DISC is clamped to the FLYWHEEL.

With clutch pedal in "DOWN" position, DISC should normally be independent of any flywheel movement.

With pedal in "DOWN" position, and DISC Stuck To Flywheel, amounts to same as pedal in "UP" position. Engine could ONLY POSSIBLY RUN if in NEUTRAL.

Owner says that he has tried to let clutch out slowly with ENGINE RUNNING. As he does so, the engine RPMs decrease as the clutch pedal comes "UP"! CLUTCH PARTS appear to be working properly! But, WTF do I know?

Coop

.

[cadillac512]

Exactly, Coop. In fact, if he says the car is solid and won't budge an inch, most likely it is a brake or something else that has locked a wheel from turning. Logical process of elimination with all the provided information is the way to proceed.

[petehoovie]

[mhaim]

Back in the early 80Â’s I used a 34 4door as my daily driver. On one winter evening with freezing rain, I drove home, pulled into the driveway and set the hand brake. Next morning with temps below freezing, I started the Ford, put it in gear and relieved the hand brake. The car wouldnÂ’t budge. All the levers were frozen. After doing forward reverse a few times the I got 3 wheels free but the right rear was still locked. But the car could drive. After dragging that wheel on icy roads for about a mile it finally freed up. Lesson learned.

[3quarter32]

New to me also.

[BoxCar Tom]

Fairly certain that the brakes are the problem So I chocked the front wheels, put it in neutral, hand brake off. jacked up the rear wheels. PS wheel locked but broke loose with just little hard tug on the tire. DS wheel needed a lot more persuasion, couple of hard whacks to the backing plate with rubber hammer, wheel moves. This is good news. Intentionally released the floor jack quickly so the car hit the floor hard. Something up front squeaked? Car rolls backward. Went up front pulled the chock, car rolls forward. Started it up, put it in 1st gear, moves forward, put it in reverse, it moves backward. Want to take it out for a spin but its raining, finally. Maybe Thursday or Friday. Don’t want a repeat, so didn’t set the hand brake, put it in neutral, chocked the rear wheel. Thanks to everyone for all the advise, back to normal.

A bit anticlimactic but welcome nonetheless

[Mart]

Well that was easily resolved. Glad you didn't waste a lot of time on a wild goose chase trying to find a transmission problem.

[ford38v8]

Well, we can't all be right all the time.
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

[tubman]

Once again, Mr. Coopman proves that, contrary to his protestations, he does know a few things!

[cadillac512]

Vincent up on post #23 and a couple fellers from page 1...they're the winners!

[swedishsteel]

Hint--don't use the hand brake when you park it so the shoes don't have contact with drums to rust together. Glad it was easy fix.

[cas3]

yup ^^^ never ever put the parking brake on and then let it sit in storage. left in gear is all you need