Manual Transmission Shifter Installation Questions

[K1ng0011]

I am installing a 4 speed transmission into my 72 camaro. This is my first time installing any manual transmission. It is an NP440 or MY6 transmission. Basically a GM version of a Chrysler A833. The first question I have is finding neutral on the transmission itself. From what I have read normally neutral for the studs for the shift forks need to be straight up and down for all three. However I cannot move the first and second gear shift fork when the reverse stud is straight up and down. I have to pull it back and then I can move the first and second gear shift fork out of neutral. I think that is neutral for this particular transmission. Does that sound right? The second issue is with the Hurst shifter itself for this transmission. I have two of them. When I have both of them out of the car in a vice I cannot get one of the shift arm levers on the bottom to move on both shifters. Its like I cannot find the gear to move that lever for some reason. I did verify when I had them in a vice the reverse pin was not contacting the vice itself. I am puzzled how both shifters have one gear that I cant seem to find.

 

[K1ng0011]

I figured this out. I took the shifter apart and found it had LOTS of grease where people had greased it up in the past. I cleaned it out. I also found that the plunger on the shifter had worn against the reverse spring. It was basically making it really difficult to pull into reverse. I pulled the roll pins for the plunger out and put the plunger on the non worn side. That is why one of the shift levers was not moving it was the reverse lever. I have also found that neutral for the NP440 is 1st/2nd is | and 3rd and OD is | and \ for reverse. That is the way the studs off of the side of the trans need to be positioned for neutral.