Does anyone know what would cause the transmission in my 1970 cutlass to not lock into gear it goes into park just fine and I can kinda get it to stay in neutral if I move it back and forth until it locks but other then that it won’t stay in any other gear

 

I'm not sure what your issue is. Is it that the trans will not go into gear, or is the issue with the shifter itself? Hard to determine by what you posted.

What exactly is "it" in the statement below? The car? The shifter?

 

The shifter and linkage is what I’m referring too I can run the shifter through the gears but the shifter wont lock/stay in a gear like I don’t even have to push brake in or push the shifter in to get it to move it’ll just ratchet through of of them

 

What vehicle is this, and what type of shifter?

Does the transmission go into gear, or is it just the shifter is "loose"?

 

OP states it's a 1970 Cutlass. Not sure if column or center console though.

 

so the firm clicking between gears is not felt now when you manually change gears ?

if so ... it sounds like what the th350's used to do and shear the pin inside,,,on the detent lever thing
that happened on my 4x4's a couple times back int the 80's

 

If your trying to say the shifter moves without feeling a gate or bump for each gear position, most likely the detent spring has broken.

This is the detent spring for the rooster comb, th400 trans. A TH350 will have something similiar

 

I think you are saying that the trans will not stay in PARK...Stepping on the brake will not result in anything other than brake lights illuminate and brakes will hopefully stop vehicle. This era of vehicle does not require one to step on the brake to shift out of park.

 

How about you start by telling us EXACTLY which shifter you have? Is it factory or aftermarket? Did the car come with it or was it retrofitted? Who did the work? Is this a new problem or has it always done this? Photos of the shifter would help.

 

I have a th400 transmission that suddenly stopped locking gears and just stays in neutral and if turn i off it will eventually go but only stays in first and goes back to neutral.