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I have a '54 F-100 with a '58 292ci y-block in it. I had the trans out and cleaned and painted it but never opened it up. It was working fine before but now, after installing a new clutch and paint job it won't go into gear with the engine running, just grinds. With the engine off the pressure plate releases enough to spin the clutch plate free but won't allow the transmission to go into gear when running. Did I dislodge a synchro mesh or something rolling it around on the bench?
Is the driveshaft connected? If it is, and you start it with it in gear, and the clutch pedal down, does the truck try to go forward? If the driveshaft is out, it takes very little drag of the clutch to keep the gears spinning, so it will grind going into 1st. Try 2nd or 3rd.
Pedal is all the way up with very little tension on the throw out bearing on the pressure plate fingers. I can see the pressure plate relieving and can spin the clutch plate with the pedal depressed.
I don't think the transmission is the issue. As stated above, it takes very little drag to turn the input shaft. Is this a three finger pressure plate and stock disk? Is it possible the disk is installed backwards?
It is a three finger pressure plate and I decided to put in a new friction disc. The one I bought (supossedly for a '58) was in backwards. After reversing it I have the same problem. Now I've decided not to replace it till I find an exact replacement. I'll try to post a picture of what I'm looking for.
That disk is marked correctly as the flywheel side. Be sure and check your pilot bushing or bearing in the end of the crankshaft. Being worn, cocked or frozen can cause your symptom.
I’ve read your post and I think Steve just might be right. If the clutch assembly is installed correctly I would look at your through out bearing and the through out bearing fork and spring. I ended up buying a new old stock fork on eBay. When I compaired the old with the new it was different. My issue was first gear only. I have a 312 thunderbird engine and tranny. I think when they did the change they used the 55 fork. My power unit is all thunderbird maybe 56 even 57. The fork I bought was NOS T Bird for my power unit.AJ
Last edited by ajsunnyB; Sep 19, 2023 at 10:00 PM.
Reason: T Bird
Try adding a 5/16” flat washer under each clutch cover ear to flywheel mounting bolt. You said that the replacement disc was thicker, so try the flat washer trick.
It's a very simple system and should not need shims or other work-arounds. Gather up the parts that were working and compare to the new parts. Either the cover or disk are different or the input shaft is dragging in the pilot bushing.
This sounds a like the problem I'm having with my '49 F-2. Transmission was working fine until the other night. I was able to move the truck without a problem, drove it to a spot on my driveway and then I couldn't shift it into gear. I could shift into gear if the engine was off but as soon as I kicked the engine over the truck jumped forward and choked out. I have a project in my shop right now but as soon as I can get it out I'll be pulling the F-2 in and putting it up on the lift.
I installed all new clutch parts when I rebuilt the engine earlier this year and have at least 1000 miles on the clutch with no problems until now.
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