My truck has the 4 speed with granny. I always start out in 2nd which is at about 7 oclock. Reverse is at 8 oclock. I can be at a dead stand still with the clutch to the floor and these two gears will grind going in. It was rather embarassing at the registration stand at the car show yesterday so I started turning off the truck to put it in gear. The other gears work fine. Sometimes it will click right in but most times it rakes a little. Is there a trick to this? Thanks, Gater
Grinding Gears & Clutch Service Notes Hi Gater ; Couple things here . 'K ? : Is the tranny full of oil ? they drip 24/7 and so need topping up a couple times a year if not more frequently . change it once a year too . Is the engine idling too fast ? tickover speed MUST be 600 RPM's or below . Clutch adjustment ? the clutch pedal _must_ be held up against the toe board when released then as you gently push it with your hand , there should be less than 1" before you feel it begin to touch or move anything . too much freeplay here will cause grinding . All the above is now Just So ? good , now let's teast your clutch & pilot bearing : 1st. thing in the morning , truck cold , start it up and allow to idle , press clutch to the floor and _hold_ it there for the duration of this test ~ Engauge 1st. gear , now move it into reverse ~ did it grind into reverse ? it shouldn't have as you kept the clutch pedal to the floor , right ? . If it ground into reverse , listen for a faint grinding noise as the truck is stationary and idling in gear ~ think you hear it ? shift into neutral and if the grinding immediately stops , the pilot breaing is bad , dry or more likely worn out and needs replacing . If you get a faint grinding noise any time the clutch is depressed regardless of in gear or neutral , the throwout bearing is worn out and may soon break . I hope this helps , remember : fixing the 1st. 3 steps will cure 90 % of griding troubles . LOTS of past posts on clutch service , DO NOT buy any parts untill you have the old clutch out & in your hand for matching as there's 5 different clutches to fit your old truck .
Nate, I knew I could count on you for a thorough answer. I drained the transmission and refilled with 80W90 this week. I will perform your diagnostics this week while I extend my Memorial Day till Wednesday. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks, Bill
Hey Gater... It could very well be that your truck is rejecting all of its transplants. It happens in humans, you know!
Ken, You might be right. I thought I had done the proper DNA analysis to ensure compatibility but mistakes have been made. I am sure that, if I follow Doc Nate's prescription, the patient will survive and might even be stronger. I suspect the clutch is out of adjustment so I am hoping that will do it. Gater
Yo Nate!!! FIVE different clutches???? Gadzooks I knew I did the right thing by using the flywheel, clutch and starter that came on the engine I got. I had another, larger diameter clutch and flywheel that I was going to use, but upon careful inspection realized that the ring gear was different and would not match up to the starter (12 volt) that I wanted to use as I am doing a 12 volt conversion. glad I decided to use the original setup to the engine, although I did get a clutch kit to match with pilot bearing, throwout bearing etc. and had the flywheel ground to boot. Andy
I mis typed ~ 6 at least . Rockford cover Vs. diaphram typ and three different diameters , I _think_ the spline count remains the same tho , not sure getting too old & fuzzy headed . For 1/2 ton use , even towing I highly recommend using the diaphram typ of clutch cover . Better grip , vastly smoother action and way less pedal effort required ~ Chevy went to thr diaphram typ clutch cover in 1941 ~ way before most others did . My '46 3100 came with a Rockford typ cover and it was missing two bolts holding it to the flywheel , after I'd worked it a few weeks the cover failed one friday night as I was heading out to have dinner & a movie with Billy Bob and Chrissy ~ I replaced it with the correct Diaphram typ cover and disc , rebuilts of course as I was poor , when I sold that truck 15 years later the clutch was still working perfectly , I'd towed cars from Lake Tahoe to L.A. and everywhere else with it....
