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weird ping noise every once in a while when i let out the clutch only when starting in first. cant seem to figure out what it is since it only does this at random. Is this my clutch fork hitting something or is there a long road ahead of tranny issues? still runs fine but its getting harder to start out in first gear.

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied Sold
1974 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied

My '80 was doing that for while and slowly was getting worse. Seemed to be coming from the rear on mine. It felt like a u joint was going out, but all was tight when I crawled under to look. By the time it sold, and I drove it to the new owner's place, I thought the driveshaft was going to fall out at any time. My guess is that the diff was letting go. But I didn't have to deal with it, and never found out for sure. I was honest about it to the buyer and he was Ok with it. He wanted a project.
But yes it was a stange PING or two as I was letting the clutch out to start going. Both forward and reverse.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

yeah mine sounds as if its comming from the clutch assembly itself right infront of the drivers seat. only has done it a few times i was thinking my clutch fork needs to be greased up but i hope its nothing to serious.

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1980 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied Sold
1974 Chevy LUV 4x4 Weberfied

Might be ur throwout bearing or arm might be hittin the springs on the clutch plate~ Check for any fresh metal marks on these items..., possibly a syncro inside the trany~

I'm going to resurrect this thread because I'm experiencing the same thing, and it's getting more frequent, and louder, by the day.

My clutch doesn't slip at all. It makes me wonder if I just have critically low fluid and friction is just doing it's job, and eating up my clutch plate. I have never noticed a fluid leak from the transmission.

Truth be told, I have not yet gotten under the chassis and looked at the situation between the transmission and carrier ("3rd member" for search purposes). Occam's Razor would have me assume it was the U joint, since it's the most vulnerable mechanical connection between engine and road. Will report back with findings.

Reproducibility:
I can reproduce the noise when I apply load to the transmission by releasing the clutch. Almost always in 1st, but it also 'pings' when I go into reverse, or use the transmission to brake.
Basically, any time I load the transmission by accelerating or downshifting, it pings. It almost sounds like a loose plate that knocks against the bolt that is supposed to hold it tight.

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75 Mikado G180/4sp Desert Tortoise

Check you diff oil level.
A couple weeks ago, up at my Dad's, he was telling me about his 56 F-100 making a ping noise when he takes off from a stop. I told him about my '80 LUV and how the diff was coming apart.
I asked, "Does it sound like a pebble is inside the drive shaft?" He says,
"Yep! That's the sound." I asked if that diff still leaks oil. He said it used to. I said if it used to, and stopped, it's because it's out of oil.
At the car show, we added oil. It was very low but not empty. He drove it home, and within a mile the noise went away. Lucky for him that truck never goes very far, and never gets above 50 mph. So I think it will be fine.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

I get that noise too. Haven't ever gotten under and looked, but it sounds like the bell housing or something similar ringing.
Mine does not sound like any damage is being done. Love to have someone figure it out.

The drive shaft "ping" noise is almost always caused by play in the pinion bearing preload. It is the drive shaft moving forward and back a bit under load. Moves a bit forward or back depending if torque is applied in 1st or reverse at the time.
Preload is adjusted with the large nut at the rear differential, center of the drive shaft. Will over time probably start damaging the seal and leaking fluid out at some point in the future.

My 77 does the same thing, and found that my u-joints are making the sound it is always when I start out in first gear.

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If you can't LUV it then leave it!!

I believe I've found the culprit.
There was noticeable play in the rear u-joint, and zero movement from the front u-joint. As far as I know, the driveshaft shouldn't have any play at all, so I knew I was headed in the right direction.

You can see a complete cap & seal in the upper right side of the image.
The other 3 caps were missing their seals and were bone-dry. The broken cap in the foreground was also missing all of its needle bearings.
The other two trunnions were not in nearly as bad shape as the two in the foreground, which kind of surprises me given the state of the broken one.


I'd been driving it like this for at least 3 months

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75 Mikado G180/4sp Desert Tortoise