How to Test What Gear My Car is In Without Starting It?

[G V]

Hi all!

I have a 1970 Plymouth Duster that I got from a friend who got it from a friend, etc. So I do not know what is the state of a lot of different systems and parts. One thing that concerns me is that one previous owner changed the car from a manual to an automatic, or at least it looks like they tried, but judging from how badly a lot of other parts were handled I am skeptical that it was done correctly and was also warned by my friend that they were not sure if it was actually in Neutral. Before I can get the engine running I would like to make sure it is actually in neutral/park to not run myself over, is there a way I can check without the engine running? I have it up on jack-stands for now but that seems like a band-aid rather than a solution.

Thanks so much!

 

[WTruo]

So it has a automatic in it now, right?

 

[Demonracer]

Disconnect the linkage & push the shift selector on the transmission all the way to the back (towards the rear of the car), that should be "Park".

 

[G V]

Disconnect the linkage & push the shift selector on the transmission all the way to the back (towards the rear of the car), that should be "Park".

Awesome, thanks! Its funny because I don't know what any of those things are but now that I know what to Google I can go figure it out lol.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Why not finish it out and hook all the linkage and shifter up? I fail to see how not finishing that is of any benefit.

 

[Demonracer]

Go to mymoparts & download a "free" factory service manual.

 

[yellow rose]

Why not finish it out and hook all the linkage and shifter up? I fail to see how not finishing that is of any benefit.

Yep. That makes extra work for nothing really and when you are old and lazy like me make work is two four letter words.

If the OP is worried about firing the car in gear on the initial start up just put the car on ramps for the front and jack stands for the rear.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Yep. That makes extra work for nothing really and when you are old and lazy like me make work is two four letter words.

If the OP is worried about firing the car in gear on the initial start up just put the car on ramps for the front and jack stands for the rear.

Not to mention it could end up with somebody dead.

 

[67Dart273]

Go to mymoparts & download a "free" factory service manual.

Nice try, it's "MyMopar"

 

[67Dart273]

Connecting neutral safety switch is easy. The 68 / later transmissions have a 3 pin switch located on the driver side near the shifter shaft. The CENTER pin is for neutral safety, the outside two are for reverse lights. Look at your starter relay......How many "flag" "push on" connectors does it have? If you have two (4 terminals on the relay all together) then either one is tied to ground, or else it goes through the firewall to the clutch safety switch. Identify that terminal and run a wire down the firewall to the transmission center terminal

If your start relay only has 3 terminals, you need to run downtown and buy one for an "automatic"

 

[Dana67Dart]

Guys. Sounds like the OP is new to old cars.
This is not the trans in your car but what a typical manual trans looks like.

Typical automatic trans

I forgot to mention if the car is automatic with the rear end off the ground. If the trans is in park the drive shaft will not rotate.

If it is manual trans and it is in neutral the drive shaft will be able to rotate. If it is in gear it will not rotate.

 

[G V]

Why not finish it out and hook all the linkage and shifter up? I fail to see how not finishing that is of any benefit.

That sounds like a good plan now that I know what it is haha.

So it has a automatic in it now, right?

In theory yes.

Guys. Sounds like the OP is new to old cars.
...

I forgot to mention if the car is automatic with the rear end off the ground. If the trans is in park the drive shaft will not rotate.

If it is manual trans and it is in neutral the drive shaft will be able to rotate. If it is in gear it will not rotate.

I am completely new to old cars lol. This car might be the first time I have been in something made before the 80s.
I tried shifting but I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that my gear stick is not actually attached to anything because in every position I could still freely spin the back tires.

So I think that leads me back to needing to go figure out how to link all this stuff up.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[diymirage]

I tried shifting but I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that my gear stick is not actually attached to anything because in every position I could still freely spin the back tires!

Both of em...at the same time?

If you don't have a suregrip (very important word, but well get into that later) in it, you can spin one wheel freely regardless of what gear you are in

 

[Dana67Dart]

Diymirage is correct.

If both wheels are off the ground and the trans is in park. One wheel will spin and the other will spin the other way (non locking differential)

That is why I said to rotate the drive shaft. Eliminates that variable.

How about a photo from under the car looking at the driver's side of the transmission

 

[diymirage]

thats not a 440 duster is it?

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

Take the driveshaft out. Better safe than sorry.

 

[AJ/FormS]

I also, highly recommend to get both rear wheels off the ground.

 

[G V]

Diymirage is correct.

If both wheels are off the ground and the trans is in park. One wheel will spin and the other will spin the other way (non locking differential)

That is why I said to rotate the drive shaft. Eliminates that variable.

How about a photo from under the car looking at the driver's side of the transmission

Here ya go.

Driver side of trans.
View attachment 1715659552

Here is following the metal cable from above:
View attachment 1715659553

This is as far as I could follow the wire, I believe this is leading to the gear shift but I could not actually see:
View attachment 1715659554
View attachment 1715659555

From driver side trans moving forward towards the front of the car:
View attachment 1715659556

Also I could spin the wheels both ways when the gear shift was all the way forward and when it was all the way back. I guess I need to pull up the interior and try to follow the gear shift?

Thanks for the heads up!

PS - Do my the jack points I used look alright? From what I read online I think I'm fine but would appreciate a second opinion:
View attachment 1715659557

 

[diymirage]

Looks like the gear shift is hooked up (but your neutral safety switch is not, which will need to be addressed)

In the last picture, where the gauges are, just look at the sheathing of the cable, if its red, you're good

(The steel braided line in the 4th picture is your kickdown cable, very important)

 

[G V]

Looks like the gear shift is hooked up (but your neutral safety switch is not, which will need to be addressed)

In the last picture, where the gauges are, just look at the sheathing of the cable, if its red, you're good

(The steel braided line in the 4th picture is your kickdown cable, very important)

Okay, just to make sure I'm following correctly, you're saying it should be red because that is what is handling the shifting of the transmission in this picture, correct?

And I will look into that neutral safety switch, thanks for that!

 

[diymirage]

Okay, just to make sure I'm following correctly, you're saying it should be red because that is what is handling the shifting of the transmission, correct?

And I will look into that neutral safety switch, thanks for that!

correct
easiest way to find out

or, set your phone to record, toss it under there, get in and shift it a few times...then look at the video and see if it moved or not

but if it were me, id take that cable being red as enough conformation

 

[G V]

Awesome, thanks so much.

 

[diymirage]

Awesome, thanks so much.

no problem

did we ever figure out what engine it is?

looks like a big block

how bout some more pictures of the entire thing?