Hesitation from standing start in first gear

[Tyler & Christian]

Folks,
The '57 I am thinking of buying has a VERY pronounced hesitating, lugging, jerking start when trying to get going in first gear from a complete stop. It is like I'm learning to use a clutch for the first time, but I have driven thousands and thousands of miles in cars and trucks, old and new with a clutch. This one is beyond touchy. It is downright ornery and violent. There is no getting a quick acceleration. The only way to get a smooth start is to accelerate so slowly that the people behind me at the stop light starting honking.

And FWIW, I am a newbie--no, that is an insult to newbies--I am newer than a newbie. The last time I regularly worked on a car was about 30 years ago with my 73 Super Beetle when I was a kid. Since then I have paid for all car care and maintenance. My son and I are gonna try to do an update restoration on this 57 GMC truck.

So, taking all that into consideration, what is the story with this vehicle? Is this problem a "slipping clutch" or is it worn out or what? Or am I just not in touch with old trucks and this is how they are?

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Tyler

[55dude]

find a mechanic you trust and had knowledge of vintage vehicles and tell the seller you want to have vehicle inspected on lift before you purchase it as lots of things can hide from inexperienced eyes and not that sellers are out to rip you off but between the fact they usually need money and lack knowledge of problems you can really shoot yourself in the foot as your judgement becomes clouded because of future dreams owning said vehicle. cover your ass dude!

[OrrieG]

Sounds more like a timing/carburation issue than clutch. The clutch will either engage or slip. If the throw out bearing is sticking or linkage is binding then it will engage all at once with not control. Possibility that the clutch disc may be coming apart but then it generally makes some pretty bad noise and will slip. Hesitation is usually and accelerator pump in the carb, poor timing or distributor is not advancing properly (gunked up or broken part inside). You need to find a mechanic that knows these old rigs to give you a good evaluation. The things you have described so far are not deal killers for a project. I'd also start looking for mentor to help you and your son along the way. Join a club that has members with old rigs, just about everyone is willing to share what they know, I'm doing the same with my grandson as my grandfather did with me. Good luck and have fun.

[57rookie]

As a tech I would suggest it is probably a plugged fuel filter if it has one. The old gas tanks contain rust and debris. Take to a mechanic and a good carb clean, a tune up (new plugs, wires, dist cap or points depending on original or not), and an inline fuel filter install should make the difference.

[Houston54]

Check all vacuum hoses and connections. I had a similar issue with a V8 that had a hose slipped over a valve cover breather outlet. After installing a hose clamp on the connection the hesitation went away.

[motornut]

check the dizzy weights are moveing freely

[solidaxel]

Welcome from the North end of the Cactus patch !!!

Can you tell us a bit more about the truck besides it has a clutch?
Engine size, numbers of carbs, type of distributor, number of gears,
How does it run in high gear at highway speed, is it only at take off?
What happens when you change gears?