Quote:
Originally Posted by wbedwards
The parking pawl does not hold well on the late 50s and early 60s Fords. Don't depend on it, THEY CAN AND WILL JUMP IN REVERSE WHILE RUNNING.
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The Ford-O-matic in my '55 Courier used to jump out of park into reverse. For a while, I simply avoided using the park position and just used the emergency brake, but that kinda stuff bugs me. When I tore into it I discovered (as suspected) the park pawl inside the transmission was broken off. I replaced it with a new one and that fixed it. But I still find myself leaving the gear select lever in neutral anyway since the car starts in neutral as was intended by Fomoco.
I stongly suggest that even if you do have a good park pawl do not put it in park on an un-level surface with the whole weight of the car resting on that pawl. That is a surefire way to destroy it. Keep foot on brake pedal while pulling out emergency brake THEN put it in park (or just use emergency brake by itself).