1983 gear shift knob will not engage

Hi Lucien ... So many possibilities here ... It's kind of useless to speculate from afar but the first thing I would do is check the gear oil level. You are going to need to consult a Chilton's manual for that one. A Camry Chilton's should be on the shelves of your local library if your budget is tight or you can by one at your local book store or parts place. It will probably even have a tranny troubleshooting guide to get you started on the problem. Good luck!