1960 Tranny Whine

[James S.]

Gents,

Have about 70 miles on the total ground up resto (see pics of engine before and after). This car has been off the road for over 15 years and was stored outside under an oil tarp. I am amazed at how well the original paint and chrome buffed out. Anyways...the tranny saga goes on.

From the get go while driving at any speed the tranny whines like a truck tranny. Is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

[James S.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

More pics...

[Domenic T.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

James,
I would gues you have a Borg Warner 4 speed and if so I can say that assuming you have the right amount of oil in it you have one of about 4 or so bearings out.
#1 the input shaft bearing
#2 the front main shaft bearing
#3 the rear ball bearing
#4 cluster shaft roller bearings

With a possible input shaft crank bushing out or reverse idler bushings, not to mention the tail shaft bushing.

I made it sound worse than it is, but it is probably one or more of what I listed.

Now if its a Power Glide then get used to it especially at a idle as the noise was transfered from the main shaft thru the case.

DOM

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

Not sure of your skill level, but if you decide you need to do an overhaul and are the type to do most of your own work (I'm that type), it isn't very difficult to rebuild the T10.

I'm a real newbie and am in the process of a complete frame off restoration of a 1960. I am rebuilding everything before I put it all together. I rebuild the T10 transmission for my car and had never done it before. Of course, I don't have the car running, so I don't really know if I messed anything up. But there are good instructions for a beginner on this forum and I think I found some on the Corvette Forum and elsewhere on the internet with Google searches. I bought a rebuild kit from D&L Transmissions and I think all together I spent about $350 for a rebuild kit, new torque-lock slider and some other odds and ends. It went together fairly easy and if I turn the input shaft by hand, the output shaft turns and I can shift through all the gear on my workbench.

[James S.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

James,
I would gues you have a Borg Warner 4 speed and if so I can say that assuming you have the right amount of oil in it you have one of about 4 or so bearings out.
#1 the input shaft bearing
#2 the front main shaft bearing
#3 the rear ball bearing
#4 cluster shaft roller bearings

With a possible input shaft crank bushing out or reverse idler bushings, not to mention the tail shaft bushing.

I made it sound worse than it is, but it is probably one or more of what I listed.

Now if its a Power Glide then get used to it especially at a idle as the noise was transfered from the main shaft thru the case.

DOM

Dom,

This tranny has been a nightmare. A reputable GTO transmission builder from Michigan had a go of it and installed the wrong servo in the tail shaft causing an inoperable tranny. I then took it to a local guy and now the unit is worse than before.

I drained the oil and a very dark thick sludge came out. There was quite a bit of fuzzy metal on the T-10 magnet as well. I refilled with clean 90 weight. Not only do I have the constant wine in all four gears (no whine when in neutral) and rolling, but there is a loud ticking noise from the bell housing area with the clutch in only. I put the car up on jacks again. I wedged a piece of wood between the clutch and the seat to ensure the clutch was bottomed out. I pulled the inspection plate, started the engine (clutch was all the way in, with tranny in neutral) and used a stethescope to determine where the loud ticking noise (the sound is like metal to metal; sounded like the flywheel was hitting metal, but I ruled that out) was coming from. It was the loudest on the clutch arm and slightly less in decibals on the input shaft. I ensured the shift rods were adjusted again, and took the car for a spin. Well, the noise wasn't as severe, but as usual it was hit and miss for shifting as I had to double clutch, especially from 2nd to 3rd gear, etc., and the whine was still there. I'm pulling the tranny and taking it back to the local guy.

Thanks for the advice.

Jim

[James S.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

Not sure of your skill level, but if you decide you need to do an overhaul and are the type to do most of your own work (I'm that type), it isn't very difficult to rebuild the T10.

I'm a real newbie and am in the process of a complete frame off restoration of a 1960. I am rebuilding everything before I put it all together. I rebuild the T10 transmission for my car and had never done it before. Of course, I don't have the car running, so I don't really know if I messed anything up. But there are good instructions for a beginner on this forum and I think I found some on the Corvette Forum and elsewhere on the internet with Google searches. I bought a rebuild kit from D&L Transmissions and I think all together I spent about $350 for a rebuild kit, new torque-lock slider and some other odds and ends. It went together fairly easy and if I turn the input shaft by hand, the output shaft turns and I can shift through all the gear on my workbench.

I normally do all of the rebuilding, with the exception of the transmission. I don't have the micrometers, etc., for checking tolerences, so I figured the investment in that kind of equipment outweighed having someone rebuild it for me.

Thanks for the info.

Jim

[William C.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

T-10's are not like a Muncie, they have their own special parts like the flat roller bearing set between gears and other differences. If the lube was in the condition you mentioned, then you have to consider the possibility of wear/pitting on the teeth of one or more gears. Take it apart, take photo's as you do so, and reverse the process. Your shifting problems are likely either worn synchro clutches (the brass rings) or the clutch not disengaging fully.

[James S.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

T-10's are not like a Muncie, they have their own special parts like the flat roller bearing set between gears and other differences. If the lube was in the condition you mentioned, then you have to consider the possibility of wear/pitting on the teeth of one or more gears. Take it apart, take photo's as you do so, and reverse the process. Your shifting problems are likely either worn synchro clutches (the brass rings) or the clutch not disengaging fully.

Bill,

Thanks for the info. This will be the third time for rebuild of this tranny. Never ran into so many problems with rebuilders. The clutch definitely disengages; no problem there. How could a brand new rebuild wear so quickly? I installed two pints of 90W multipurpose gear oil as the factory specs indicated.

Jim

[William C.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

Unfortunately, without having someone familiar with T-10 stuff (older, not Super T-10) eyeball the trans (preferably apart) problems are difficult to diagnose. "One look beats a thousand reports"

[Ken A.]

Re: 1960 Tranny Whine

Gents,

Have about 70 miles on the total ground up resto (see pics of engine before and after). This car has been off the road for over 15 years and was stored outside under an oil tarp. I am amazed at how well the original paint and chrome buffed out. Anyways...the tranny saga goes on.

From the get go while driving at any speed the tranny whines like a truck tranny. Is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

According to GM the reasons for noise are:
Insufficient lubricant
Worn counter gear bearings
Worn or damaged clutch gear and counter shaft drive gear
Damaged clutch gear or mainshaft ball bearings
Damaged speedometer gear
Worn out main case where countergear pin is pressed.
Black lubricant would indicate no service was performed.
If your "expert" is unaware of the above causes, then find another shop.