This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Sunday, I had the Coupe (Green wheels) out for a drive and it ran well and then it made the worst metal to metal screeching sound one can imagine from the car one is riding in. In trying to mentally diagnose what the problem might be, I recalled that I was going to change the pilot bearing and I got involved with other problems and forgot it. Unless some one can tell me that these are the symptoms of something else. Well at least I've got the new spring spreader to work with! That's something! Any suggestions?
Terry

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Did the sound change as you stepped on the clutch?

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

If you were just driving along, not pushing in the clutch pedal or shifting gears, then it's not likely to be the pilot bearing as it would be rotating as a unit.

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Yea you need to do some diagnosing. First steps pull floor and inspection cover on bellhousing.
Next start engine with clutch depressed in gear.
Listen for any noises
Then shift to neutral and slowly let the clutch out
Listen for any noises
If everything still sounds OK carefully go for a short drive around the block/your yard and listen for any noises.

report back what you hear when you hear it and note clutch position, gear your in, and speed.

Could be anything from piolt bearing, throwout bearing, trans bearing, spedometer gear/cable, starter bendix, belt squealing in front of the engine, water pump bushing/bearing, generator bushing/bearing. All those can make noise and sound can travel to far away places so it may have sounded like it came from the trans but in reality somewhere else hence remove floorboards and inspection cover to help pinpoint it.

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Speedo cables screech beyond belief-------Sometimes!
Bill W.

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

I agree totally ... bushing inside the speedo that cable fastens to will make a hell of a noise if it is dried out and not lubed ... unhook speedo cable before pulling engine!!

When bushing is not lubed it will stop turning for a second and "wind up" the cable and then release ... so you might see speedo bouncing around up to 75 MPH and back down!

Noise goes away when bushing warms up.

This noise will sound like it is in transmission or rear end (or even inside your head!) ... VERY hard to locate.

Noise from speedos will be louder and happen more often when weather is cold and first thing in morning and then go all day with no noise and then start screaming next morning.

Do not ask me how I know this!!!! :D:D:D

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

A vacuum leak can also make a screeching noise that sounds almost metalic. I once had that when I didn't tighten the carb to the manifold enough.

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Beautiful day! Took it for a ride and could not duplicate that howl/screech. However it had a low volume growl in third that it didn't have before. Step on the clutch (at speed) and and all noise ceased. Something's different! I don't think it's the speedo cable or the manifold.
Terry

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

This winter i had a screech that sounded like coming from the trans, turned out my speedometer a few drops of oil. I to thought my trans was under a bad bearing attack!!

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

A growl could be rear end noise, which can sound like it's coming from right under your feet as the sound is transmitted up the torque tube. Check if the rear end oil is full, and the condition of the oil.

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Any more feedback on this issue ? I have a 41 that just started having a noise emitting from the bellhousing, when clutch pedal pushed in - noise stops , let go of clutch pedal and noise starts again! The clutch and all components have 2k miles on them :/

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Terry.......................Try lubing the bushings in your distributor. FWIW
Paul in CT

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

Up date! I am so disgusted______________ Here's what happened, The noises were kind of subdued so I took it out to the Flea market one Sunday. I won't bother you with details, but it was traumatic ! I wound up on a back rd at 5 mph, fighting to keep it from going into two gears at once (very exciting!) Even a solid brick wall can't stop you that fast! With too far to go and no guarantee of even the next quarter mile, I parked it and called 3A. Got it home on a flatbed, put it in the garage and haven't looked at it since. I think it's something in the transmission DUH. I'm so disgusted I didn't even pull the top/shifter plate off, yet!
Terry

Re: This noise can't be good, Transmission
 

When you pull the shift tower, turn it upside down and inspect the two rivets that hold the shifting forks onto the rails. If a rivet has worked its way out (due to being improperly installed and peened over), the gears could be moving along the main transmission shaft and trying to engage, which could cause a two-gears-at-one-time mess scenario. Did you replace the shifter lever or spring yourself? If so, double check those shift fork rivets!
Also, use a stiff wire looped around the cluster gear and pull up. If it moves up and down, the shaft inside is broken. A few years ago, cluster gear shafts were being sold that were not hard enough and would break in two. That happened to my 1931 Deluxe Roadster, which made for some uncomfortable noises and odd shifting into gear experiences.
I'm betting on a loose shifter fork, however.
Marshall