About ten days ago my manual tranny locked in reverse right at a
critical time. I could not get it out of reverse gear. I borrowed a
Suburban from my brother to have immediate transport. Well, I  got the
local towing service to bring the 'ol roll-back to pick up the van and
take it to the my mechanic of choice. He got it up on the rack and found
the shift arm connector on the side of the tranny had simply broken into
pieces, and jammed. so I could not get it out of gear. I got a repair
kit from Kin Wilford, and in a couple of days I was back on the road.
That rebuild kit was long overdue. Fortunately, there was no problem
inside the tranny. That would have been very expensive. Total related
cost to be roadable again - Approx $765!! Note that I said "related"
costs .... costs revolving around the incident.!

"Now how on earth could that little repair cost so much?" you ask. Well,
here is how it went down.

Cost me a hundy for the roll-back. Actually $105.
Parts added up to $200 - rounded up slightly. So that makes $305.
My mechanic charged me $125, the labor including replacing a hose.
Wouldn't have done that if it weren't already in the shop.
So that is $430.
Then there was the $135 speeding ticket I got in the  Suburban I
borrowed from my brother since e my van was broken and  I was in a hurry
because I was gong to miss the deadline for an art show set up and I
needed the money from the show. There was also a very large plate of
chagrin that had to be swallowed, because I haven't had a ticket of any
kind in over 45 years.
So now it's up to $565.

I drove home from the shop, and the shifting was good and easy. I parked
the van, and before I could get out , I got a call on my cell phone from
the mechanic asking how the shifting went on the way home. . I went
ahead and got out of the van, and as I did so, I flung the van door shut
....... at the same time dropping an awkwardly held cell phone right in
the lower door jamb where it loudly went "crunch!, as the structure of
phone failed under the impact of the door slamming shut .......$200.

Grand total related costs for a tranny jammed in reverse - $765.

I ain't about to ask what is gonna happen next!!!

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver