[Vegas_Rob]

Hi all,
Rob from Las Vegas here! I'll be picking up a new (to me) '96 SS that has been quietly waiting for me at the house next to my father's house for 25 years. It hasn't been successfully started in about 10 years, so a buddy and myself will be relocating it to my house via an open trailer and winch. My question is, if the battery is dead how do I get it into neutral? The seller is saying that he swapped the battery a few months ago but was unable to start it (PASS KEY fault fix is in my future) so I'm sure the battery is dead again. I believe this year has a neutral safety switch and pressing the brake typically will allow shifting, but can I do this without any power to the car? ANY recommendations on how to temporarily get some juice to the car enough to shift it into neutral? Thanks in advance!

 

[MWP]

There are two switches you're talking about here. The neutral safety switch (prevents starter from cranking if not in P or N) is different than the shift interlock switch (up on brake pedal, connects to a solenoid on steering column which prevents shifting out of park unless brake is applied).
See #5 here:

What is the switch that prevents trans shift out of park...

In other cars, I believe that there is a 'neutral safety switch' that prevents drver from shifting from Park to Drive or Rev. unless he has depressed the brake pedal. In the 94 Imp, I understand that there is no Neutral Safety Sw. but an 'Auto Trans Solenoid' in the steering column which...

www.impalassforum.com

With no power to car you should be able to turn key, physically unlocking the column to shift into neutral.

 

[Vegas_Rob]

There are two switches you're talking about here. The neutral safety switch (prevents starter from cranking if not in P or N) is different than the shift interlock switch (up on brake pedal, connects to a solenoid on steering column which prevents shifting out of park unless brake is applied).
See #5 here:

What is the switch that prevents trans shift out of park...

In other cars, I believe that there is a 'neutral safety switch' that prevents drver from shifting from Park to Drive or Rev. unless he has depressed the brake pedal. In the 94 Imp, I understand that there is no Neutral Safety Sw. but an 'Auto Trans Solenoid' in the steering column which...

www.impalassforum.com

With no power to car you should be able to turn key, physically unlocking the column to shift into neutral.

Thank you! Just what I was hoping to hear!

 

[Vegas_Rob]

Hi everyone! I just realized that I hadn't posted the results of the move. I successfully picked up my new old baby and managed to get it home to my driveway over the holidays. The before pics show what it looked like after sitting for 10 years, and the after pics show what a 27 year old paint job looks like after:
1. iron removal spray treatment (Thanks Adam's!)
2. first wash in at least 10 years
3. first clay bar likely EVER
4. TWO passes with my D/A polisher, most aggressive foam pad and most aggressive (clear-coat safe) compound
5. one pass with mid-level polish
6. one pass with high-grade polish

arr

half done, half to go

and the final-ish product! The bumpers and grille will need a squirt of paint/clear while the hood has a fair amount of clear coat checking, but it came out better than I was hoping for! Next stop - dropping the fuel tank and then working my way forward with the fuel system...