Tranny troubles..... 3speed

[speesh]

Help!!! I have a 71 Burb daily driver with a 3 on the tree which has been converted to floor shift. Lately it has been having problems when going into first gear. It feels like the synchros are gone, if I stop completely it will go in but it never feels quite right..... also a few times it has seemed to get stuck in between gears, wont go forward or back but then by playing with the shifter and getting it into 2nd or 3rd it will go back into first. I checked the tranny lube and had to add about 2 quarts (!!!)
Is my tranny shot? Or is it about to be? Can I change the synchros or is it a major disassembly operation? Or should I just change to an automatic now like I have been planning to do anyway? I need this fixed, it is the only vehicle we have that holds all my kids, and we want to go camping!!!!!!!

[lpaine]

Sounds bad, the fact that it was low on oil could be why it's hard to go into 1st, it may have overheated and done some damage. If it's still driveable, maybe just keep driving it until you get a chance to do the tranny swap. Of course it could break (murphies law!) and you and your family could be stranded, not a lot of fun. Those old trannies will take a lot of abuse though. I don't know if it's worth repairing, it might be simpler just to find a good used one. Call a local trans shop and ask them what they think. Best of luck.

[ira ashley]

Could be the clutch is about gone;
Does it grind between gears?

[jimfulco]

Sounds like the shift linkage may be getting sloppy. See if the rubber bushings on the levers under the hood are still there. Also, your clutch linkage may need adjusting if it's not completely disengaging.

[mooneyes]

i would also check shift linkage...i've yet to see a good floor shifter for a 3 speed

[crazy longhorn]

It does sound like the shift linkage is sloppy, but I prefer floor shifters. Hurst puts out some very nice shifters for the 3 spd trans. With as low(empty) as the trans was on lube, my bet is its "toast" (blue gears & bearings....aaack!) you can probaly replace that 3spd pretty cheap, i still find them from time to time for $25-50 in usable condition. Good luck,crazyL

[Class of 69]

I recommend checking the shift linkage adjustment also, along with clutch adjust. Do you have any " free play " on the clutch pedal? By having trouble going into 1st gear, do mean it grinds, or binds? To adjust the shifter...remove the shift rods from the shift arms on the trans. Make sure the shift arms on the trans, and the shifter inside are both in the nuetral position. The rods should fall directly into the holes on the arms with out moving either. If they don't line up.. adjust the length of the rod at the shifter until the rod will fall into the hole. That should be true nuetral adjustment.

[EdB]

It sounds like you have problems in all areas.

It is not hard to change the three speed. I have had
mine out several times. They are tough. The one in
my truck is the only thing that has not been worked
on other than seals. it has at least 300 thousand
miles.

If you decide to buy a used one, specify that you need
to try it first. A little extra work is better than buying one
that is in as bad shape as the one you removed.
Since you have already changed to a floor shift, you
might want to look for a four speed. It would probably
make it more fun to drive.

Once the transmisson is out, you are right at the
clutch. It would only be a little more work to
check it out.

Just my thoughts.

EdB

[jhwkns]

Check this out http://www.drivetrain.com/saginaw3_4sp.html

[67Fleetsidedream]

When I had my 3 speed, it did the exact same thing for about a year. It had a noise like if the throw out bearing is going bad. It goes away when you push on the clutch pedal when in neutral and the truck is running. After shreading the teeth off 2nd gear and pulling the tranny. The whole problem was that the bearings on the main shaft were shot and that is what was causing the hard shifts and the shifter to be stuck between gears. I have a Tremec 6 speed now. Be safe and yank that tranny and get it checked out.

Ben