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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,043 Posts1,055,540 Members48,425 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 65 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 65 | so...i spent 16 years restoring my '59 1/2 ton 3 on tree apache. rebuilt everything and turned every nut and bolt on whole truck, except i didn't touch transmission other than cosmetically and changing fluid.
well, finally drove her after all these years. 70 miles to be exact, maybe 8 miles a day for 9 days, no issues. today after putting it in 3rd gear like i had numerous times i heard a loud clanking and she came to a slow stop. when i pressed in the clutch as it was slowing down, the noise didnt go away. finally i stopped and i heard no noise and the engine was still runing. i put her in 1st and then reverse to turn around. no issues what so ever. drove back to storage in 1st gear. when i arrived i let the truck idle and it sounded fine. drove indoor in 1st and reverse and didn't hear any unique sounds.
could i just have a damaged 2nd and 3rd gears? i have a spare tranny...what should i look for... need help?????
porkchop is depressed
1959 Chevy Fleetside 3100 Series BBW
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,756 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,756 | Check out the universal joints before you start tinkering with the transmission. It sounds like you've lost a bearing cap and one of the U joints is flopping around. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 65 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 65 | hotrod..
i will check that for sure, thx..... if that were the case, would the u joints flop around no matter what gear i was in...or are you implying speed or revolutions would have an impact at higher revolutions? porky
1959 Chevy Fleetside 3100 Series BBW
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 1,003 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2019 Posts: 1,003 | Drive it again. Not just in 1st and reverse. Pay attention to speed not just gear selection. Double check lugnut torque. You might have a wheel coming loose. Ive seen loose wheels do all kind of weird stuff. Jack up each wheel atad to ease the weight on it, but dont totally take it off da ground. Then torque it to spec in a criss cross pattern. I dont think its trans related from what u said, but not sure?? Let us know...…... | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,756 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,756 | At low speed there will be little if any noise. Once you get up to 15-20 MPH or so, a loose U joint will make a terrible racket. Ditto on the loose wheel- - - -that's also speed-sensitive. You could also jack up the rear end and support the axle housing on jack stands, then "drive" at various speeds while a helper watches the driveshaft turn and listens for noises. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 65 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 65 | gentlemen.. ...climbed under and looked at u-joints and all looked good there and they were snug....i'll look at lugs too, and taking off center caps will be difficult. is there a trick to get them off or a puller? i remember pressing them over the wheel clips and it was a nightmare.
anyway, i did back up the truck and went forward slowly and i could hear something going on underneath. not sure if i'm micro managing every sound now.
also in neutral, i did rotate the driveshaft a little and there was a little "slop" as i turned the shaft a tiny bit and could hear it engage maybe the rack/pinion..
thinking the worst as always... i'll jack up the rear end and see what happens...
1959 Chevy Fleetside 3100 Series BBW
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