This morning is the first chance I had to look at it again. So when I put it in gear, the speedometer at first didn't move. The clutch pedal felt okay, and nothing looks out of the ordinary from a quick look underneath.
As I played around a little more, shifting and listening, it sounds like the clutch is grabbing because I can hear some sounds from the tranny as if things are spinning.
The speedometer will move sometimes, a little anyway and not always, and when I shift I can grind some gears a little bit (very little). Still, the truck doesn't even inch forward or backward at all.
Does this sound like the clutch isn't fully grabbing? Could some shaft in the transmission have broken? I tried all four gears and reverse, and the same thing happens - not much of anything.
To make sure.
Your truck is a 1938 Chevrolet 1/2 ton w/4 four speed trans.
When in fourth gear with the clutch out and giving the engine gas.
Can you keep the speedometer at a steady 35 mph for about 5 seconds?
If you
can not keep the speedometer at a steady 35 mph.
This might be the problem:
In order of what to check first.
A. Front yoke is busted.(speedo gear is attached to rear yoke)
B. Tranny is broke.
C. Clutch, Pressure plate.
If you
can keep the speedometer at a steady 35 mph.
This might be the problem:
In order of what to check first.
A. Front yoke is busted.
B. U-Joint is busted.
C. Rear yoke is busted. (A,B & C can all be inspected by sliding back
Ball Housing)
D. Ring & pinion gear busted.
E. Propeller Shaft busted.
F. Axle Shaft busted.
The reason for grinding when shifting gears could be because,
if the u-joint assembly is busted, there is nothing holding (i.e. Ring & pinion) the transmissions rear main output shaft from spinning.
Crosssection of 4 speed Transmission 
