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#1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Ridgecrest, CA
Posts: 318
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Tranny troubles..... 3speed
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!!!!!!! ![]() ![]()
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57 suburban(sitting in the driveway), 2 69 C20 longbeds (sitting in the field ) and a 2003 8.1 Suburban ![]() Endeavor to persevere. "All of a sudden, I'm the old timer!" Some old timer on American Pickers. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Parksville, B.C. Canada
Posts: 637
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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.
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1969 G.M.C 3/4 Ton 920 (Canadian Version) 307 3 speed, currently apart 1998 Chevy 1/2 ton ex cab V-6 5 speed 1967 Chevy SWB - project truck; not started just yet |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: va
Posts: 91
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Could be the clutch is about gone;
Does it grind between gears? |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Shreveport LA
Posts: 3,170
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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.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Slippery Rock PA USA
Posts: 1,692
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i would also check shift linkage...i've yet to see a good floor shifter for a 3 speed
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Ken Lyons, Slippery rock pa 68 short step 327 t10 4 gear 72 2wd blazer project 70 lwb 305/700r driver 78 caprice project 02 cavalier D.D ( hate it!!) |
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#6 |
Fabricate till you "puke"
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Ill
Posts: 9,403
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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
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69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears.... |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Stillwater MN
Posts: 1,166
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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.
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69 GMC K10 ..some restoration required....still.. ![]() |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Gulfport Ms
Posts: 401
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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 |
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#9 |
Registered Cruiser
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 2,230
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Check this out http://www.drivetrain.com/saginaw3_4sp.html
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I intend to live forever. So far, so good. |
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#10 |
Wiseass secured himself a BAN
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: MOON!!!
Posts: 2,282
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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 |
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