The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1951 1/2 ton Tranny??

I have a 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton. Three speed off the column; 235 straight six engine.

Today when I took my truck out for the first time I heard a bad "clunk" whenever I started to go in reverse or forward. Its ok after the clutch is fully out and doesn't make the noice while driving or shifting, just when I first start to back up and go forward from a stop when the clutch is fully engaged.

My mechanic is going to look at it thursday, but from what he heard when I pulled into his shop he thinks it could be the transmission. I hope not.

Does anyone have any other ideas as to what this might be?
and if it IS the tranny, might anyone have a solid and fully functional/complete transmission to sell me to replace the one I have?

Please let me know, and let me know price including shipping to New Hampshire (zip code 03602). I'd appreciate any help in locating one.

Thanks,

Bart
([email protected])

I have an idea, from experience with an old truck. It is more likely (to me), the Universal joint. When you pull forward the first time it takes the slack out, the slack is the clunk. I bet when you go from fwd to rev it does it every time? I had 2 3speeds and sold them for 25 bucks a piece a few years back. They are less than 65 pounds and USPS WILL ship them. When I shipped them in 2005 they cost about 25-30bucks a piece to ship. It may have went up since then, but it should not cost more than 40 to ship a 60 pound 3-speed tranny with the oil drained out. I shipped from WV to Idaho and WV to Texas. Both were under 30 bucks to ship. YOu shoudl have no problem finding a 3-speed, people are taking them to scrapper every day!! Keep your eyes peeled, knock on as many doors as you can when you see something along the road, most people give this stuff away. You know--it would be CHEAPER to replace your tranny than the u-joint. Noone has an extra u-joint, but every has or has had 3 -speeds which shouldn't go for more than 50 bucks or so. GOOD LUCK!
Oh---and just becuase there is sometihng amiss with your tranny isn't a reason to throw it out, save some american history, if you are going to trash it anyway....then might as well open it up and LOOK inside it. It may be somehting simple like a shim or something that you can have a shop make for under 20-30 40 bucks. and it's fun and you will be saving more Stovebolt parts from an unnecessary end. [email protected]

kgw,
Yes! Exactly what you described is what I am experiencing. from forward to reverse, or just going in reverse or forward the first time..clunk!!

If no one has a U-joint, is there some repair that can be done to the existing one? or is there a resource for such a part?

Thanks for your input.

Bart

Bart,

A replacement u-joint is readily available for a 1953 1/2 ton that has an original 3-speed transmission. (complete u-joint assemblies and repair kits/parts; here is a u-jont "repair kit" )

You can easily slide the u-joint cover back over the torque tube to see if the u-joint is loose and needs replacement.

Tim

Tim,

Perfect!! Thanks. I have Jim Carter's catalog, you'd think I would have looked there first!! I guess I'm aging badly.

as for my "easily" doing anything mechanical..LOL. nah. Thats why God invented my mechanic.

Thanks so much.

Bart

FYI...it was my U-joint.
bolt in yoke broken, bolts and clips on u-joint a mess!!
new one coming from Jim Carter's.

thanks for everyone's input and advise.
Bart

Just to help a bit next time, I shop at Jim Carter's almost most of the time. I have found another source of 'old new stuff' at our local NAPA store. The owner looks up parts in the book and cross references a bit and bingo! he has the part on order and here in a day or two. Found this by accident when needing some real expensive points, condenser, rotor and cap for a 46 pontiac. He had the stuff the next day at one quarter of the price on the internet. I ordered my 41 chevy 1/2t brake shoes from him and just the right part.
Best of luck.