problems starting in 1st....

[layedout72]

First it's 3 on the tree, Ford 303 I believe, 9 inch rear.....

It feels like when you pop the clutch and give it no gas. You know...the first time you drove standard, it clunks and shakes and wants to die. Well it's like it's doing that. It's not any faster than from starting off and 10 mph. I haven't gone over that fast other than when I first took it on the street, to MAYBE 20. But it did it then as well, when I started out.

What could it be? Everything went back in how it came out tranny wise, and I havent touched the rear end other than obviously removing/installing the driveshaft.

[FORDification]

Mine was like that when I first got it. On the test drive, when letting the clutch out it shook the truck pretty bad, and it felt like it was rattling my teeth out.

It's not the rearend, it's the clutch. Clutch chatter like that usually either comes down to a misaligned clutch disc, and/or one that is contaminated with oil. Normally at this point I'd ask you if your engine is leaking from the rear main, but since you hinted that the transmission's been recently removed and reinstalled, I'd venture a guess that the disc got some oil contamination on it during the installation.

[layedout72]

Mine was like that when I first got it. On the test drive, when letting the clutch out it shook the truck pretty bad, and it felt like it was rattling my teeth out.

It's not the rearend, it's the clutch. Clutch chatter like that usually either comes down to a misaligned clutch disc, and/or one that is contaminated with oil. Normally at this point I'd ask you if your engine is leaking from the rear main, but since you hinted that the transmission's been recently removed and reinstalled, I'd venture a guess that the disc got some oil contamination on it during the installation.

I cleaned the clutch and everything else rather well before putting it all back together. How would it be misaligned?

[fordman]

it could be the pressure plate being warped or some slight inperfections. if i remember right you have never drove this truck until now am i right?

[layedout72]

it could be the pressure plate being warped or some slight inperfections. if i remember right you have never drove this truck until now am i right?

no, i bought it and drove it home. the only time it shook then is on the highway going 50+ and I figured that was brake drums or driveshaft...

[fordman]

ok then maybe its got some grease on the plate or clutch. how did you clean it what chemicals did you use on it?

[layedout72]

I just wiped it down real good with shop rags best I remember. All the clutch pieces and all were out of the tranny when I pressure washed....



my dad says we may have used some sort of solvent, but are they not supposed to take away oil? It got wiped down thoroughly regardless. I don't remember it doing it this much when I first drove it but it surely does right now. I mean when I first took it down the block once broken in and stuff.

[fordman]

there are two thoughts on this that it could be if it was done. 1 if you used a cleaner of some sort it could have left a film of grease or something on the parts to make it shutter like that. 2 if you didnt use any cleaners maybe it had some grease film on it that didnt come off and that is causing the problem. also another thought if you used water on the plate it might have flash rusted and is shuttering because of that. im thinnking that you might be able to drive the truck for a few miles using the clutch where you can and burn off what might be on it. the adjusment thing might coem out of it after you drive it im unsure about that though. it could be it needs some sort of manual type of adjustment.

[layedout72]

I will try and not kill myself tomorrow and take it around the neighborhood. See what happens.

[fordman]

dont dump the clutch right now just use it like normal. that should get you your best results. let us know whats up in the hood. or should i say under the hood.

[layedout72]

what do you mean whats up under the hood? its a 302 if thats what u mean, just a stock rebuild intake to pan. good oil pressure, stays at 190 at idle.

if thats not what you meant....please do explain.

[fordman]

i just was refering to what might be still wrong if anything after you drive it. and it was kind of a joke about driving around the neighborhood.

[FORDification]

It depends completely on what kind of solvent you used to wipe the disc down. Like fordman stated, some kinds of petroleum-based solvents do indeed leave a greasy residue behind. You should have used a fast-evaporating trichloroethlene cleaner that won't leave any kind of residue. You can also use denatured alcohol or brake cleaner.

[layedout72]

If I used anything, it was carb cleaner. I would think it would be oil free, seeing as the carb touches fuel....maybe I am wrong.

Also, it just hit me that it's not so severe in reverse. I can start in reverse rather easy. Using gas of course, but im thinking maybe the reverse gearing is a better gear than first gear going forward and it doesnt need so much gas....though I do still need to give it a bit.

Could it possibly be the fact the motor is running too lean, and it just isn't getting near enough fuel?

[fmartin_gila1]

You might also check your motor mounts and tranny mounts. You could have broken springs in the clutch disk itself. These will give you chatter too.
Fred