Hi Guys - just parked my '71 442 in the street and the key is stuck.

I can move it forward to start it (for some reason won't start) but I can't move it back into the lock position.

Tried starting in neutral etc. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Try grabbing the column under where the switch is and rotating left or up. If it's a column shift, you may have to also pull
up on the shifter at the same time. It may just be a little out of adjustment.

 

Wow, it worked like a charm!

Thanks!!

 

Your welcome. I had a 74 442 back in the day with a floor shift in it. Well, the cable broke, and that was how
I had to shift it until I got it fixed. When they are daily drivers, you gotta do what you gotta do. Glad it worked out.

 

So the backdrive linkage from the trans to the steering column on your car has been removed. This also means that the neutral safety switch and backup lights won't work properly either. You may want to reinstall the linkage or run aftermarket switches on the shifter as opposed to the factory one on the steering column.

 

Or the plastic and rubber bushings are worn out, preventing the backdrive linkage from moving as it should. Damn junk 50 year old cars!! 😎

 

Certainly a possibility, but I'm betting it's missing. Usually pulled out to install headers or a floor shifter. Eventually the steering column collar rotates due to vibration and we get a question like this.

 

Ok, so the automatics had the same linkage despite shifter location and could be driven from the floor, or the column. How did the stick shifts work the switches?

 

Exactly the same way. Manual transmissions were required to lock the shifter in reverse. The backdrive rod was operated when the trans was in reverse. This also allowed the backup light switch on the column to be used.

Four speed backdrive hardware is very hard to find, since that's one of the first things we all threw away when installing headers.

 

Thanks again tru-blue, this is a trick I will now always remember!

I tend to think it is the worn plastic or bushings. My reverse lights function as normal, the car is essentially stock and this is the first time I've encountered the issue (driven regularly for 3 years).

 

Pretty sure you can get replacement bushings at the parts stores in the Help or dorman sections

 

Yeah, so long as you're willing to purchase an assortment pack of bushings, only one of which fits your car...

 

I have slept a lot since the last bought some, maybe way back you could buy them individually. Someone probably decided they could make more money by selling them in a assortment pack instead of individually. It’s all about the almighty dollar!!!

Maybe you could find what you need at a transmission shop.