Dartin for Divorce

Are you sure this isn't some sort of brake problem? I've seen cars that would roll in reverse fine but as soon as you try to go forward the brake binds up. If the trans was fine before, I seriously doubt that disconnecting the linkage for a manifold swap is going to prevent the car from moving forward? Besides, the vehicle should move forward even without the linkage hooked up shouldn't it? It will burn up the transmission if you drive it that way, but it should be fine to go up and down your street once.