Turbo 400 not going into park

[cooperhw]

I did try searching but thought I might reach out to my truck brethren and get a quicker/up to date response.
My project truck (Homer) was supposed to have had a transmission rebuild when the truck came through Arizona heading to California after it quit. Well even with the shifter linkage off I cannot get the transmission to go into park. I have researched this issue and have come up with a possible scenario. Supposedly this "parking PAWL can be installed backwards which is what I am believing happened. The motor home was coming from Montana heading to California. Shop "rebuilt" the transmission and seeing as it was in Phoenix AZ it might have been blazing hot and they were moving to San Diego to live there so the owner said fine, let it go.
My question is this; can this Pawl be removed and turned around while the transmission is in the truck and can it be done by someone who is "transmission challenged?"

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[hugger6933]

I don't remember much from transmission classes when I went to school @ NADA for the auto and diesel tech program, but I do seem to recall the park pawl being at the back inside the case. No way to get to it without a complete tear down. That is gonna mean take out and new gaskets and seals at the least the rest should be golden. But like I said that was a long time ago, and I have smelled a lot of paint fumes since then.
after I graduated up there and was packing the truck to come home I told my dad, They are starting another autobody class next week. He boy put your stuff in the car and go home and go to work. You don't need to know how to paint. you might paint an old tractor or maybe a truck once or twice in your lifetime. Surely not enough to pay for a full education on it when you need to get a job. It was less than two years later I owned a body shop and was building wrecks. Strange how life works isn't it?

[kwmech]

Park is purely mechanical in nature. Have you pulled the oil pan off to have a look? The rod inside the pan hooks to the shaft you turn and is about 9-10'' long, it sits in a (what I would call) a steel saddle that keeps it aligned with the pawl lever. Maybe they didn't tighten the bolts and the saddle fell into the pan thus letting the lever drop out of alignment

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Park is purely mechanical in nature. Have you pulled the oil pan off to have a look? The rod inside the pan hooks to the shaft you turn and is about 9-10'' long, it sits in a (what I would call) a steel saddle that keeps it aligned with the pawl lever. Maybe they didn't tighten the bolts and the saddle fell into the pan thus letting the lever drop out of alignment

Thanks guys for the response. Just trying to figure out if it's something I am willing to tackle myself or not.
I appreciate it.

[john]

Here are some pics that could help.
https://www.google.com/search?q=th-4...53%3B640%3B480

[68350]

Could this be a turbo 375 or whatever model some motorhomes had? Just curious if they may be a different animal

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by 68350

Could this be a turbo 375 or whatever model some motorhomes had? Just curious if they may be a different animal

I don't think so. The SPID called out 400 but who knows if the original was even re-used. Back in the 80's (even today) they just swapped out like an oxy bottle at the welding supply.

I think they threw it in, it was hot, they were broke down out of town on their way to California, and the old boy said that's ok. Gotta go.
Drove it on over to San Diego and it never moved again until I drug it off.

[68350]

The only reason I ask because if memory serves me right some motorhomes didn't have a park position on the column

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by 68350

The only reason I ask because if memory serves me right some motorhomes didn't have a park position on the column

My 69 GMC did not have a park assy when I bought it. Had to convert the trans and replace the column. A lot of the military 400s don't have park either

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by 68350

The only reason I ask because if memory serves me right some motorhomes didn't have a park position on the column

My column has the park position. The transmission just will not shift into park period with or without linkage.

[kwmech]

Pull the pan off yet?

[Dustytrix]

you can repair that by just pulling pan, I think the pawl is held in with one bolt.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by 68350

The only reason I ask because if memory serves me right some motorhomes didn't have a park position on the column

Maybe we are getting to the bottom of this. I pulled the pan off last night and does not look like there is a parking pawl in this trans.
Here are some pics;

[cooperhw]

I wonder if there is any literature out there on such an animal? It kinda makes sense. There was right at 4000 pounds of motorhome on this 1 ton dually with 175" wheelbase truck. Lots of weight to pop the pawl off of on a hill.

[kwmech]

That surely answers that question......It can be put in if you can scavenge the parts off another

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by kwmech

That surely answers that question......It can be put in if you can scavenge the parts off another

x2