Could be the shift valve body gummed up, or the reverse actuator not releasing......the reverse actuator engages a pawl that would prevent the forward gears from turning the driveshaft. This same pawl in reverse serves as a "parking gear" when selector is placed in reverse and engine is shut off.

Is the fluid level full?. Do you know why it was parked?. Really sounds like the sealing rings are letting fluid by-pass?.

Hi thanks. It is now, I got it on the ground and now reads full when idling in neutral. No idea, the guy started taking everything apart and then just stopped and left it. I bought it last year from his daughter, she knew nothing other than it was there since she was a kid! Had a couple stuck valves and pretty crappy fluids but has real potential. Think they will/could free up ? I realize nowt things might have dried up inside....

Thanks much. i'll be looking into those possibilities. I can tell by the sound that it is engaging, hear pump sound(?)
the car didn't run for decades so who knows...

James, I know this sounds crazy, but if the car is running, and stopping, find someplace to actually drive it in reverse. This will let the trans fluid warm up and circulate and possibly let things start working again?. Just might give it a chance?. Occasionally, stop, check to see if it will engage going forward.

willing to give that a shot. I actually drove a buddys car quite a way, (58 chevy) in reverse when bands went in trans and would only back up....just hope thats not my situation.. Have to push it out of the garage first haha... thanks for the input.

One other thing with these Hydramatics, the planetary gear drums at their tops, when sitting for years, often get rusty scale and then the drums are stuck in the bands.

Thanks, That sounds very possible from my experience it acts like the bands. going solid into reverse and only pump whine sort of sound in forward. Low sounds a little different than D. Anything to do about that aside from removing and having it gone over? That would be disastrous for the "budget" perhaps running it will get it to free up? Thanks for the info Jim

Have you tried calling Gus Souza about this? He is probably the most knowledgeable guy in the club on Hydramatics. Don Chase is offering rebuilt Hydramatics for $1600 with no core needed. I have pulled several Hydramatics myself before, including one on a Rolls Royce from the 60's , yep, Rolls was licensed to built their own Hydramatics for some years.

Continuing to try to sort out the transmission situation. Jacked up it will wind up and actually shift . Put on the ground again and it will crawl when in low gear. Seems like it will speed up but is definitely slipping as it goes. IF it 's the bands I don't think it would go at all, can anyone confirm this. Not willing to throw in the towel just yet. Concerning drums stuck to bands, any thoughts on whether they could eventually free up. Another question, what can I access through the side cover?

Hi thanks for the reply. Do you have contact info for Gus Souza ? Didn't find him in list but might not have done it right. ?

A.J. "Gus" Souza PH. 630-231-7764