The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Transmission issues?

I was driving the truck on Sunday for about a hour when all of a sudden the truck started to to shake while driving and it seemed I lost power coming out of the engine. I could shift into the gears but as I gave it gas the engine would rev up and move forward but the truck wouldn’t gain speed. It was as if the engine wouldn’t go past 2000 rpms. It almost felt like my brakes where locked up because as I drove home the truck was shaking and it seems like I was losing compression. I had to drive up a hill that I normally don’t have a problem getting up, but I almost had to put it into second to get over the hill.

I checked the tires and all spun so it wasn’t my brakes locking up.

I don’t even know where to begin with this issue. In the end...it felt like I was driving against something or like my brakes had been locked up which they weren’t.

Any help or thoughts would be appreciated on what might be happening.
1964 Chevy k10 with a 283 engine and four speed. Thanks John

Was engine spinning? Clutch could be weak.
Is there oil in the diff?
Has brake shoe come loose in wheel?
Is park brake coming loose?

Here are some ideas.

Ed

Thanks for the thoughts.

The engine was spinning. I also recall that on a occasion or two it felt like the transmission was slipping...I’d give it gas and the transmission didn’t respond. This happened once or twice but it corrected itself.

My parking brake works...it holds the truck and releases. I have to check the brakes.

I’m going to check the diff for oil. I checked the transmission oil and there was oil.

Motor mounts, fuel delivery (pump, carb, lines, filter). Electrical. That's a lot of stuff, I know. I lean towards motor. However you did not say engine was missing, sputtering, dying, choking, backfiring. Can be misfire, crossfire, detonation......plugs, wires, points.....TIMING CHAIN slipped..

You mean clutch when you say slipping feeling, right?

You will have to drive more, be aware of what it does and give us a better feel. Too many possibilities right now.

Check motor mounts first. Front/side and tranny mounts, then timing, then look for weak spark so as to start eliminating systems. If it seems serious, check compression.

Clutch

I'd start with inspecting the clutch/pressure plate too.

All of a sudden? during cruise speed? I think you would notice clutch in 2nd or third gear as you let off clutch. Clutch should be a gradual wear-out with chatter/hard shift/jerky. Not "all of a sudden" at cruise. Unless some kind of oil spill on it or broken link or spring.

Bottom line, truck needs more testing and examination. Not enough info yet. Try different clutch pedal release methods and see if you can induce slip or chatter without going overboard. Try to distinguish between bad clutch and motor not running right. Sometimes difficult. Tearing into clutch is the last resort.

Could even be due to gas cap not venting. Pulling a vacuum on the gas flow. Next time it does the "thing", jump out a take off gas cap and drive on.

Check motor oil for milky/weak coffee look/overfill. (your symptoms can be hydraulic lock)

Fibre cam gear slipped on its bush ??

Does a 283 have a fiber gear? Don't think so.

When clutches fail from gradual wear, they start slipping in top gear first, largest torque load, no gear reduction as in lower gears, so if not slipping in lower gears, that is a big clue.

Chattering, jerking, etc., may also occur, but other causes such as worn linkeage, oil soaking, failed springs contribute.

I got a DD 4-53T that we couldn't figure out why it was failed. Turned out every clutch disc spring was broken, too much labor $ to R and R in factory truck.

Ed

Thank you for all the advice. I went through a number of these recommendations. I’m thinking it’s not transmission related. I learned a lot from this advice.

As an example, with the engine idling I can hear the engine running rough. I changed the gas filter and run with ethanol free gas. When I pressed down on the peddle. The engine revs but it hits a wall, where it runs really rough and you can feel the engine shaking.

When I was driving the truck on Sunday it was running smooth and after a few errands (stop and stars) it started this issue.

The engine oil is fine and clean and at the right level.

My plugs where changed about a year ago. Oil was changed in the spring.

Open to thoughts....Not sure if I need to bring this to the engine forum

OK, now we believe it kind of "develops" the issue. We believe it is not the trans/clutch. That's good. Probably not the timing chain either. A rough idle, then runs OK, then develops a problem is what I read. This is a little odd.
You did not jump out and remove gas cap as advised. Shame. Must try to follow suggestions and advice. That would have eliminated another cause.

Elimination and testing is the proper way for most things. Inexpensive items, and easy to install items, are OK to replace without test. Points, plugs, wire, condenser should be replaced regardless of who, when and how in the past. Maybe even the coil, dizzy cap and rotor. Need a good solid electrical baseline. A tune up doesn't hurt anything.. Then Time the motor. Points MUST be adjust correctly. Then test drive. If problem persists, we probably move to fuel delivery and possible vacuum leaks.
Focusing on CARB, choke, fuel pump, ALL filters (including any internal carb filters and AIR FILTER), floating clog in tank or lines......Gas cap not venting. All vacuum hoses, fittings, holes, plugs and lines. Including vacuum advance (vacuum and mechanical components).

1. What carb do you have?
2. What upgrades does motor have?

You can do a fuel pump flow test if you like. Not hard to do.

(option) Not to make Jerry mad, but a new one is cheap and easy to install instead of test. Depends on the person, their tools. their experience and there desire to save a few bucks and start a fire instead.

Check the vacum advance on the distributor.