First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

Today was a beautiful day so I decided to take my pickup up the canyon. 72 gmc 3/4 350 4 spd manual....

... on the way down i used the tranny a lot so I didnt over heat my brakes.

After coming down the canyon almost all the way home my truck started howling/grinding with the clutch half way out on accel. If I'm dead stopped starting out in 2 with the clutch half way out whine/chirping if i give it gas with clutch half way out the noise stops and if I let clutch out further it engages and the truck is driveable I'm wondering if this sounds like a wearing down pressure plate. I need to drive this truck and am wanting to make sure I'm not doing any damage

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

Possibly the throw out bearing. Either way, you'll have to yank the tranny out.

A good way to check if it's the clutch wearing out is to put it in 3 gear and slowly try to move the truck. If the clutch is worn it will slip. If it's good you'll should be able to move the truck.

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

Sounds to me like the throw out bearing but I could be wrong.

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

Just letting you all know I went out and messed with it a bit while I parked it in the garage for the night. Its more of a loud howling...its as loud in the truck as it is out. If I give it throttle it stops or let the clutch out further it stops. Does it still sound like a throw out bearing? And if it is in fact the bearing is it still safe to drive for a bit?

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

It certainly sounds like the throw-out bearing. It can easily become destroyed if it's seizing up, leaving you stranded. I've had that happen!

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

Ok Thanks, If it does fail completely or I continue to drive on it will it mess up any of the other internals?

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

It can wear through the clutch and you will not be able to disengage the engine. I would fix before it destroys the clutch.

Re: First time needing help, any help appreciated.
 

If you are getting the noise in any and all forward gears and noise starts and stops due to a particular clutch pedal position - and is affected by engine revs - it almost surely is the release bearing ('throw out"). It probably has gone dry and started to seize on the trans shaft. This bearing is an actuator that rides on the trans shaft, is operated by the clutch fork (end of your pedal mechanism) and slides forward into the spring setup to disengage the clutch plate and backward to release the spring and let the engage. If the bearing seizes it may wear the shaft, but more likely will wear the fork contacts and maybe the spring tips. Not a bad job - merely have to remove the trans - good chance to check other clutch components while you are at it. Maybe replace all of them while you have it out. Probably just need to bite the bullet and start turning wrenches - or go to a good/honest clutch shop. Good luck - not a real bad one.