The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Tranny and rear end problems!! HELP

i have a 1954 chevy 1/2 ton. Yesterday i was driving it and i heard a loud crunch from underneath my truck. I pulled into a gas station and everything seemed to be ok. but when i started it up again and put it into gear the rear tires locked up and the RPMs jumped up. moved only backwards and not forwards in neutral. got it home and it would not move backwards in neutral. the rear tires were locked. i let it sit for a few hours then i started it up and it drove fine. when i stopped the rpms jumped again. but it wasnt locked in gear. does anyone know what the problem could be and what can i do to fix it. please help. also i have the original hydramatic tranny and the original rear end in the truck. thanks
old54truckluvr

i hope you didnt spend it all on xmas, sounds like you need to see a tranny man

This same sorta thing just recently happened to my 80 El Camino:
[img]http://www.chevyasylum.com/80elky/071303_23r4.jpg[/img]

It turned out to be the rear end. As I understand it the bolt that holds the pinion gear to its shaft backed out and snapped off.

I have another rear end on the way (I'm replacing the 2.73 open with a 3.73 posi.)

The way I verified it was to chock the front wheels, jack up the rear end and spin the rear tires with the tranny in neutral. I still had the noise and the resistance. I knew that it was in the rear end then. I'll know more for sure after I swap the new one in and tear the old one down.

Ray