VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 transmission noise

I had to replace the needle bearings in my 1940 pickup transmission. Since then I have a noise in the trans. The noise doesn't start until after the trans has warmed up and then sounds like a bolt that is hitting something as it goes around. Even after the trans warms, the noise is intermittent. It gets louder then goes away altogether. Obviously something is loose. Does anybody have a clue as to what I did wrong? This is the standard three speed in the floor.

Sounds like you will have to go back into the transmission and check it out before the transmission is damaged.

One other clue, the noise is a high pitched, ding, ding ding, as if the thing being struck is thin steel as opposed to heavy cast iron. I started pulling the trans last week because of a shutter I had in the truck but found the bolt that holds the tail shaft to the trans loose in the housing. I changed the lock washer and reinstalled the bolt, thinking that the shutter was caused by the loose tail shaft. Ideas? I just can't think of anything in the trans that can come loose and make this kind of noise. It kinda sounds like one of the bolts that holds the pressure plate on has backed out and is hitting the tin cover on the bottom.
looking for ideas
Allen

I would think that you have clutch problems.

After your latest post with more details, it does now sound like a possible clutch issue.

I pulled the trans, pressure plate and clutch today. The clutch and pressure plate were fine. I opened up the trans and found a small (1/4")piece of steel in between the front bearing and gear. It was small enough to get picked up with the 90# oil and could make the "dinging" noise I heard.

Several years ago I decided that a heavier weight oil would give better protection to the gears. The oil I installed was too heavy to lubricate the needle bearings. I figure the piece of steel was from one of the needle bearings.