<VV> Problem with 1961 Powerglide shifting into reverse

[JRVIDRINE at aol.com]

Folks,
 
I have been assisting my friend Jerry Bergeron friend with his 1961  700 
equipped with a Powerglide.  We completely overhauled the brake  system.  We also 
repaired the shift cable sheath which was  leaking transmission fluid.  We did 
this with shrink wrap tube and  RTV.  This fixed the leak.  Yesterday after 
adjusting the emergency  brake cable we decided to try running the car a bit.  
Now, it didn't run  all that smoothly, since it has been out of operation for 
about a year.   The first problem was that when shifted into reverse, nothing 
happened for  about 20 seconds and then it started reversing.  We checked the 
auto  transmission fluid and it was full on the dip stick.  Shifting into 
drive  produced a shift into drive immediately.  We did this several times and  
each time it did the same thing.  Any ideas as to what may be causing  this.  
When we reattached the shift cable into the transmission (after  repairing the 
sheath leak) we followed the shop manual procedures necessary for  the ball on 
the end of the cable to engage inside the transmission.  Is is  possible that 
I didn't do it exactly right.  When this was done, the shift  lever would move 
into each position on the dash with a corresponding movement at  the 
transmission.
 
The car runs rough right now, but I'm sure a carburetor overhaul will  
correct this.  
 
Thanks
Randy Vidrine 
Branch, LA