The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop stalling out under load, trouble re-starting

1953 Chevrolet 3100

engine : 1957 235 block

So I got this truck to crank and run at idle... then ease the choke off. I ran it in reverse, which it was fine. Then when I tried to put it in fwd I kept stalling it out, which I am new to the three on the tree action, but it seemed no matter how much or how little throttle I gave it, when I let out the clutch, it just stalled.

Then it didn't seem to want to start back up...

I just do not know where to start, what to check or adjust really. I am new to the inline sixes.

Anyone have any ideas?

thanks.

-W

Three on the tree action:
Forward from neutral position : pull toward you & down for 1st gear; lift up, push away (through neutral), and lift up for 2nd gear; straight down for 3rd gear from there.

Your issue sounds like a direct shift into 3rd gear. Lots of variables that could make that not be the case- I only mention it because you said you were new to the three on the tree action.

But... I am new to the inline sixes as well, so there is probably a better explanation.

Brad

Shift pattern on the column is an H. To the driver, and up is reverse. To the driver and down is 1st. The cross is neutral, Away from the driver and up is 2nd and away from the driver and down is 3rd. Don't make fun of someone who has not seen a column shift. He/she just might be younger than you are. Starting in 3rd is close to impossible. Stall is very possible. Now, to that hot start issue. You might have an issue with, timing, fuel mix and or an air leak. Search timing with a vacuum gauge. Simple and it works. Air leaks are somewhat tricky, but not too hard. A propane torch and no fire works well. The gas gets sucked in the leak and the engine speeds up. Be careful, no fires please. Modern fuels can cause the needle and seat to stick, closed or open. Closed will make starting very close to impossible. Open will flood. So a good check is to take the air cleaner off. Look down the carb, move the linkage. Squirt? Fuel in the bowel. No squirt? No fuel or a bad accelerator pump. Time to pull the carb. If you get a squirt you can still have the flooding issue. Pull a spark plug. Is it wet? Flooded. Or bad timing. That should keep you busy for a bit. Get back to us and let us know what you find. This link will help you with a manual for your truck: http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/
Good place to visit.

Well, there. Steve...

Since I am the only person that tried to help (commented), I'd like for you to explain how I'm making fun of W by describing the shift pattern the easiest way I could. Nobody ever told me the shift pattern when I went to get my 3 spd out of the barn it was in. I stalled out the entire first month by shifting into 3rd gear thinking it was 1st.

All the rest of your post is great because I don't know all that well enough to post it.

Brad

Not you, just making sure that questions get asked. This is the "no fear" site. Ask the question. Please. Some one will have a solution. Most of my rant was to help(I hope). I have seen other posts from you. You help and contribute. That is after all why we come here. I will post dumb stuff. From time to time. I have done dumb stuff. Others need to know we all have made mistakes. Now if I could find my first AD truck that got lost in the divorce..well I could fix a lot of the dumb things I did with it. The VW wiper motor was a good thing at the time(6 Volt wipers yeah!) the king pins that fell out of the axle...not so good. The burned valves...should have fixed them and drove it away. Oh well. Other stuff was good and bad. Was I the only kid that raced a chevy station wagon? It was fun and a 3 on the tree(you do learn there are no fast shifts with that set up). But at 300 HP with positraction it was quick. Should have seen the look on Dads face when the king pins froze in his Fo%% truck and I made the never ending right hand turn. Watching him drive it home was priceless. His shoulders were huge when he put it in the driveway. I think I still got the parts bill for that one.

This being the "no fear" site (to ask questions) is one reason I like it. And just to be honest---I had a really hard time not asking/posting:

"Woogeroo, what have you been talking about on Stovebolt for the previous 5,468 posts if it wasn't inline sixes?"

It takes a lot of tact to joke around over the internet, so I didn't post that; and the joke would have on me in the end since he clearly links to his trucks in his signature. I think he & I shared some messages about covered bridges a while back, but I'm not sure.

All's well- I hope his stall issue is just the shifting. There could also be an issue with the shift linkages being off of their proper positions, but we'll see what he says.

Brad

No such thing as a stupid question. If you don't ask, and have a problem, then you should have asked.
This is from the school of experience.

See the link to my '65 C10 in my signature line... and if you see the posts I've made, you'll see that I was asking A LOT of questions for the past 13 years... but it has a later model V8 in it, not a six.

This ol '53 belonged to my dad, I helped him out on it from time to time when needed, but he did most of the wrenching/thinking on it.

That is why we are here to share and learn... we help out when we can and ask when we need to know.

Thanks everyone, I may very well have been all twisted up with the shift pattern... I got very frustrated with the whole thing to be honest and wasn't sure what was where anymore.

Thanks for all of the tips in here, I hope to check some things out this weekend, then I will report back.

-W

maybe this will help, shift jbennett

On the "no stupid question/no condescending suggestion" note, I had a thought. Does your truck roll easily when backing up? If the parking brake was sticking you would be able to back up short distances without too much trouble but not be able to drive forward. You never notice you left the brake set until you try to drive forward. Could be the cable is frozen.

Larry 58 Burb,
It rolled back fine, running, and in reverse, at least backing out and going down the driveway.
There are a lot of things I'm going to have to check I suppose. It's a very beat up truck to be honest.

-W

Try pushing the truck forward and back in neutral. That will tell you if you've got dragging brakes, or whether there's something causing the driveshaft to bind up going forward. You could also jack up the rear wheels and put the axle housing on jack stands to see if the drivetrain works properly in forward and reverse. If it passes all those checks, you probably have a problem getting the transmission into first gear for some reason.
Jerry

Hey Hotrod Lincoln,

thanks for the tips.

I did fire it up earlier for a little while and went forward and backwards a bit... haven't gotten around to trying to drive it again.

I will let ya'll know what I find out.

Thanks.

-W

Hi folks...

I did get it cranked up and I moved it around down the driveway and then back up again to move it around... so I guess I was all confused about the shift pattern.

I still need to check those things out to be sure that is all it is.

It still needs exhaust beyond the headers and well, everything else... but if it had exhaust it would be legal at least.

Thanks so much everyone.

-W