* Fully depress the clutch. This is crucial for safety and to allow the gears to shift smoothly.
* Move the shifter into a specific position. This usually involves a lift and a push or pull, often requiring a little more force than selecting other gears. The exact method varies slightly depending on the specific transmission (Muncie M20, M21, M22, etc.) but it almost always involves moving past the typical gear pattern. There's often a detent or a "stop" that you must overcome. Sometimes it's a slight upward movement before going forward or backward.
The reason for this design is to prevent accidental engagement of reverse gear at speed. The extra step (and often the slight resistance) makes it less likely to accidentally select reverse while shifting through the forward gears. This was a common safety feature in many cars of that time. Modern designs often have a separate, elevated reverse lever to achieve the same safety purpose.
