Hello,
Have a bit of a strange issue with my 73 Delta. When in Park the tailshaft
locks, as it should, but I can push the car backwards & forwards. With both
wheels off the ground, if I turn one side other will spin in reverse, which I
think is also normal, but I don't think the car shouldn't be able to be pushed with all
wheels on the ground?

regards, Cus

 

How far can you push the car? If the driveshaft is locked, then the car should not move since the rear wheels try to turn opposite directions. If the car is moving, then either your driveshaft is not locked or one of your axle shafts must be disconnected from the carrier.

 

Thanks for the reply,
when I try to turn the d/shaft by hand, it seems locked, I still have the car
on blocks, but when it was on the ground, was definitely rolling in park,
I didn't want to push it too far, but could push a couple of feet, it wasn't
going to lock. I'm starting to think the pawl isn't locking completely in,
might be a linkage problem, the weight of the car might knock the pawl
back out. This car has been converted to right hand drive, so has the linkage
coming from the right hand side of the car, the linkage arm that connects to
the tranny selector has a bit of a sloppy fit, almost like there should be some
kind of a bush in there, I might have to post a photo to explain properly,

regards, Cus

 

If you can push the car more than a fraction of an inch with the trans in PARK, then it isn't in PARK - or you have more severe issues elsewhere. It can't be one of the axle shafts disconnected, because then you wouldn't go anywhere in DRIVE. This is how the GM 4WD pickups with IFS disengage the front differential. The spider gears can spin in the housing, but without the second axle engaged, there is no connection between the ring gear and the spider gears in a non-posi axle. Think about it - if you have one wheel on ice, it's the same thing as disconnecting the axle.

 

When was the car converted? Does the drive selector give you the proper range of PRNDSL? That's an easy adjustment underneath if that's not the case. Sounds to me like you may not be in Park, you may be in R, thinking you're in park.

 

Allen,
Thats what it was, in the column selector, the cars back on the ground now,
& slotting into park, which is a relief. still a bit concerned about the connection of the linkage bracket that bolts to the tranny selector arm,
has a bolt with a few mm gap around hole, (sloppy fit), is there meant to be some kind of a bush in there?

regards, Cus

 

It's supposed to have a 'wave' washer (like a spring loaded washer that's bent into a C shape - looking at it sideways) that keeps the tension proper.