VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 '50 Chevy, trany noise

The tailpiece on the standard transmission on my '50 Chevy 216 cu growls while in third when the engine is backing off. Under load, no noise. Also leaks oil.
Before I pull the transmission out can anyone tell me what I might be in for so I can get parts in advance?

Clive

I would think it best to go ahead and pull the transmission and check it out , the growl may be from either end of the transmission or the sound may be comeing from the rearend, and it just sounds like the transmission, more than likley it is a bearing on the mainshaft, but it could have been caused by a worn front driveshaft bushing also..
Has the old car just started making this sound or has it been doing it all along as far as you know?

Before you pull the trans. out inspect the U joint, the housing with the bushing that the front yoke of the U joint rides in, and the bushing in the front of the torque tube that the U joint rear yoke rides in.It sounds as if the noise you describe could be coming from there..Also will cause vibration when backing off.If this isn't the problem these parts will have to be removed to take out trans. anyway

Gene, is right on, that is a good idea!

After more thought if U joint area looks good you can also inspect the rear trans. bearing by pulling the rear ext. off.If noise is from the differential it would be the rear pinion bearing but it was rare for these to go out.It always was the front one and it made noise on "pull"As you can see there is no way to know as to what parts you may need ahead of time' Also there are two rear trans. brgs. on 1950's

went thru much the same thing with the 52, one additional problem was popping out of high on rough pavement at 50/55 mph. replaced the second gear thurst washer,new bearing at the front of the transmission,new needle bearings and from North West Transmission parts purchased a brass bushing to replace the one in the tail shaft. The front bushing in the drive shaft was shot, would spin in the tube, bought a new u joint and a kit from the filling station that replaces the bushings and seals at the front of the drive shaft tube, using the rental tool they have it took me all of 10 minutes to install the kit.(drive shaft was down already) No more problems

My leaning to this problem is the rear output bearing. Under no load the shaft will be floating in the bearing and as we all know shafts aren't supposed to float in there bearings. I would expect a loose U joint to "clunk" only when the load is moved from the the drive load to the drag load (If that makes any scence). I would also suggest that the seals in the U joint Bell housing and/or bearing support gasket are shot as well. THese will have to be replaced any how when inspecting the play in the output shaft.