3spd grinding 1st gear

[1966gmc]

Most of the time when shifting into 1st gear,the trans wants to grind.Every once and awhile it will grind goin 3rd gear.It never grinds into 2nd gear.Is there a adjustment on the clutch to stop this condition? I plan on converting it to a automatic but in the meantime i'd love to be able to drive it and not look like a loser because it always wants to grind
BTW,I can drive a manual trans,im not that much of a n00b
Thanks in advance

[ClassicAutoResto]

Please grind me 1 pound of pork and 3 pounds of Hamburger! Thanks!!

[Stepside65]

Have you checked the clutch to see if it's worn out? Mine is about had and every now and again it wants to try to grind. Just a suggestion.

[Jdub]

Originally Posted by Stepside65

Have you checked the clutch to see if it's worn out? Mine is about had and every now and again it wants to try to grind. Just a suggestion.

This may sound like a dumb question, but how do you check to see if the clutch is worn out?

[3speed 6cyl]

Usually when a clutch is going out it engages into the gear very low to the flooor. When a clutch is new it usually engages into the gear almost as high as the position of the pedal when your foot is off the clutch. DO YOU HAVE FLOOR SHIFTER OR COLUMN SHIFTER. IF COLUMN and if 1rst and 3rd position are both down on the shifter you can try an EZ adjustment. Where your 2 shifter rods meet the column close to the firewall loosen the bolts and push your rods 1/4" closer to the tranny and retighten bolts. Another sign that this will fix that is if your 1 rst and 3rd gear pops out of gear freq. column 3 speed --a piece of HISTORY---- At least don't throw away your unit. Good luck.

[1966gmc]

Yes,its the column shifter.I have been under the truck and the clutch plate looks pretty thick from what I can see.It has never popped out of a gear before either.

[Stepside65]

Originally Posted by Jdub

This may sound like a dumb question, but how do you check to see if the clutch is worn out?

pull the bottom part of the bell housing off and look at it. They're pretty thick when they're new. If its no thicker that a 1/4 inch its in dire need of a replace. And when you replace them you're supposed to replace the pressure plate and throw out bearing as well. I don't know about your truck but the clutch kit for mine is a shade over 300 bucks. I'm dreading having to do it.

[Pistonman]

I see a clutch kit at Summit for $105.

[raiden7800]

Originally Posted by Stepside65

I don't know about your truck but the clutch kit for mine is a shade over 300 bucks. I'm dreading having to do it.

I dont want to do mine either ...... yea.... anyways, I bought mine from LMC for $173 incl. S+H.

[DM310]

Correct me if I am wrong but isnt 1st gear a non synchro gear? The only way its not going to grind is if you shift it into gear when at a stop.

[rickf]

Originally Posted by DM310

Correct me if I am wrong but isnt 1st gear a non synchro gear? The only way its not going to grind is if you shift it into gear when at a stop.

No correction needed, 1st is non-syncho.

Sometimes even when stopped they will grind, but here is how to avoid it:
The usual situation is when stopped at an intersection.
While stopped, you are sitting out of gear, foot off the clutch.
The input shaft on the tranny is spinning with the engine, but the output shaft is stopped with the wheels.
When you push in the clutch it disengages the input shaft.
But the input shaft will coast a bit.
If you puch in the clutch and immediate try to put it in gear, it will grind.
Even waiting a moment might not "fix" it. The pilot bearing might have too much drag and the tranny input shaft will just keep going.

So what to do?

Simple, put it in 2nd or 3rd first, they have syncros, will shift smooth, and doing so stops teh input shaft.
Then shift into 1st. No grind.