I am new to this forum and a recently acquired a 1400 (1404?) IMP and was told by an online parts company that it was 1976 (via serial#) with an OC-4 rear end. It needed a new water pump (current one is leaking, I have a new one to install) and thus the cowling around the engine needed to be removed to gain access to the alternator so it can be removed to install the new pump. The cat runs great, starts immediately, engine sounds good, bought it from a friend that I trust, and etc, etc. The online guy asked me, where is the second shifter? As I sent him a pic. (new poster so I cannot post pics yet..).
When I removed the cowling and the part behind the normal transmission shifter, I noticed the small square box with the pivot pins in place and below that the shift rod that extends to the OC-4 transmission. The last two people that owned this had no idea that it had the 4 speed rear end and were bummed that it went slow. So the shift rod that extends to the rear works, is not frozen, but is a bit rusted (just light surface rust) but it rotates easily. The shift post coming out of the transmission moves easily so this is intact to this point. (I have Spryte folks in Idaho looking for shifting parts to rebuild the ability to shift at the front next to the front transmission as was usual). By the way, the cowling that this shifter came out of is covered with diamond plate so the hole was not seen but is there as the diamond plate is glued to the original cowling. One reason no one recently knew it had the 4 speed rear end.
I am hesitant to try to shift the rear transmission for the reason stated below in question 1) a).
So, the questions are: 1) Why would this be disabled? Several reasons come to mind: a) there is something wrong in the rear transmission and it will only work in the low gear (but there is no noise in this tranny, no grinding, no issues that are noticeable in any way), and b) This cat was used as a search and rescue operation in Truckee and perhaps they did not want anyone driving it faster than slow.
2) If something was wrong internally and the gears are intimate with each other, would not there be some noticeable symptom when driving?
3) My plan is to a) contact the folks that had it in Truckee and ask, and b) to remove the cover plate on the transmission and visually inspect the gearing (mirrors and all to see as I don't want to remove the unit unless necessary to repair if needed... and HOPING it is intact and just needs to be reconnected with front shifting levers and knob !!)
I eagerly await anyone's thoughts and comments.
When I removed the cowling and the part behind the normal transmission shifter, I noticed the small square box with the pivot pins in place and below that the shift rod that extends to the OC-4 transmission. The last two people that owned this had no idea that it had the 4 speed rear end and were bummed that it went slow. So the shift rod that extends to the rear works, is not frozen, but is a bit rusted (just light surface rust) but it rotates easily. The shift post coming out of the transmission moves easily so this is intact to this point. (I have Spryte folks in Idaho looking for shifting parts to rebuild the ability to shift at the front next to the front transmission as was usual). By the way, the cowling that this shifter came out of is covered with diamond plate so the hole was not seen but is there as the diamond plate is glued to the original cowling. One reason no one recently knew it had the 4 speed rear end.
I am hesitant to try to shift the rear transmission for the reason stated below in question 1) a).
So, the questions are: 1) Why would this be disabled? Several reasons come to mind: a) there is something wrong in the rear transmission and it will only work in the low gear (but there is no noise in this tranny, no grinding, no issues that are noticeable in any way), and b) This cat was used as a search and rescue operation in Truckee and perhaps they did not want anyone driving it faster than slow.
2) If something was wrong internally and the gears are intimate with each other, would not there be some noticeable symptom when driving?
3) My plan is to a) contact the folks that had it in Truckee and ask, and b) to remove the cover plate on the transmission and visually inspect the gearing (mirrors and all to see as I don't want to remove the unit unless necessary to repair if needed... and HOPING it is intact and just needs to be reconnected with front shifting levers and knob !!)
I eagerly await anyone's thoughts and comments.
