Yet Another With Transmission Problems

Hi everyone - new to the forum and to the ACD club! After many years of lots of different cars, I finally gave in to checking off an item on the bucket list and got a Cord. The car arrived after some delay last week and was just as stunning and beautiful to my neighbors as it must have been in 1937. Pity it isn't drivable. Right off truck it was only occasionally deciding to shift. Drove 2 miles to get some gas and then parked it in the garage. Before I shut it off, I tried moving it through the gears. Got it into a few and then it got stuck in 4th. Currently it remains in 4th and will not go into any other position or out of 4th. Looking at the trans with the cover off, the lever is all the way to the right (passenger side) and back. All the visible wiring is showing some age but intact. I've cleaned and tightened the contacts. The red wire at clutch switch was largely detached from its bullet connector - that was repaired to no effect. The switch itself is functioning well and current gets up the red wire to the 10-pin connector at the base of the steering column. All the wiring visible going up the column and into the selector appear quite nice. The troubleshooting advice here and in the service bulletins suggest not going into/out of any gear is due to the red wire. Given that, it would suggest I could have a bad 10-pin connector, bad wiring in the column and/or broken selector switch. So, I have a number of questions:
1) How/where do I get a copy of the transmission guide mention in a few posts?
2) Are there there any vendor lists for parts kept by the club?
3) Are there factory parts and service manuals for the car (a quick look did not turn up anything)?
4) If the column needs to come out, steering wheel off, etc, as the next steps, any recommendations as to best way to do so?
5) How does the selector mechanism come apart - it's not immediately self-evident to me and I don't want to add insult to injury
6) On an entirely unrelated note, the fuel gauge is also inoperable, but appears to be the sender - any good source or universal sender to recommend?

Sorry if I am repeating questions answered elsewhere, but the forum search function was of limited help and I am (mostly) inclined to ask questions before just tearing things apart. Thanks in advance!
Fred

An idea but may not solve your problem completely. When I had similar issues I pulled the pneumatic "can" opened it up carefully, cleaned it and put new lube on the piston. When the old lube is crudied up it gets thick and hard and piston jambs up. Before you go on a hunt for a sending unit check the float. They can get holes in them. When I replaced my float I only spent a few bucks on Amazon for a plastic replacement. A little 22 gauge brass wire to secure it and gas gauge works perfectly.

Members of the ACD Club are currently working on an updated version of the booklet called Cord Model 810 -812 Transmission Manual by Sid Ayres.
I suggest you contact Jim O'brien in Pennsylvania, for the new book.
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It's a good idea not to rush in but be patient and do things one step at a time, that is how I sorted mine out.
Good luck from Australia.

Welcome to the club and being a new owner. Please tell us about your car. Where it came from. Convertible or sedan.. Who owned it before you and where are you located. Sometimes another member lives near you and can help with issues.
The trans issue can be daunting. But careful step by step will fix it easily.I suggest you disconnect the trans shifting arm from the front of the trans and then shift the car thru the gears. That may point to the vacuum can being stuck or a bad solenoid in the passenger side solenoid block. There are 4 separate solenoids in that rectangular piece. In all honesty it sounds like your clutch cutout switch might be out of adjustment but do not start moving it yet until other better members chime in with advice. Jim Obrien is VERY GOOD with these trans issues.
As for the gas tank I too believe the float has a hole in it so it fills with gas and sinks. They are easy to repair but just replacing it works the best. Mine has too many cracks in the brass cylinder. I tried soldiering it but it got too heavy. I have not replaced it yet but I have it apart on the bench if you want pictures. Just make sure the ignition key is turned off before working removing it. An electrical spark can ruin your day.
Everyone would love to see pictures of your car too


Gary Parsons

Thank you everyone for the replies - very much appreciated! I uncoupled the linkage at the transmission and manually moved the transmission to neutral. After this, I was able to confirm the unit moved into first, neutral, and then reverse - and then stopped with any further exploration as there now seem to be issues with the carb as fuel is coming out from a number places it shouldn't! (Frankly, I am happier to deal with that) In any event, progress, perhaps, in that power does appear to be going through the selector switch and the problem lies elsewhere. To answer the question about the car itself, it is a phaeton with chassis, body, and engine numbers 1339H, C-91 368, and FB2454 respectively. I believe it will be known to the the club as it was formerly part of the Pettit collection, but it is not listed in the Cord Complete book and is suggested to be an unsold '36 sold as a '37. I am located in Raleigh, NC

Hi FJ, Congratulations on your "new" Cord! It sounds like you are going to be on the steep part of the learning Curve on shifting. First off here is a link to the wiring diagram for the shifting system:
automaven.com/Technical/_Gearshift_Wiring/wiring_diagram8.pdf
Get this printed out and keep several copies, including one in the glovebox of the Cord. Studying it should answer a lot of your questions and help you in the troubleshooting.

It sounds like you are having engine troubles, while you are checking take some vacuum readings. You should be over 20"Hg, at idle, if not you need to tune up the engine..

You asked about the shift switch on the column...in the last Newsletter is an article on taking it apart and inspecting it. In the next Newsletter will be an article (if I get it done in time) on putting it back together and testing it. I'm working my way thru the shifting system, one component at a time.

AS you are having trouble with the shifting give me a call, my number is in the directory and inside the front cover of the NL. I'll be happy to walk you thru getting it shifting properly.
Jim