<VV> help! intermittent nasty noise when clutching

[Carlton Smith]

Hi Ray,

I know two guys have already given you the two possibilities. They are
absolutely correct that it is either the pilot bushing in your flywheel or
your throw out bearing. It could be either or both acting up. That is a
noise that all standard shift drivers are familiar with and some time in
their 1960's car driving experience. I owned my first Corsa while in high
school (1969-72) and replaced the pilot bushing twice in that period. I did
this by myself as a teenager.  

They are also correct that when you take things apart to fix it, replace the
bushing, the throw out bearing and the clutch plate (even if it looks good
to you) while you have it all apart. Don't cheap out on the clutch plate
that you buy either. If you are going to do it yourself you might want to
invest in a centering tool for replacing the clutch plate.  

However, I am going to suggest that you drive it a little while longer and
see if it quits. The reason I say this is because you said it was
intermittent right now. Is the weather out your way turning cold at night?
Has the car has been sitting for a long time and not been driven very often.


I bought my present 65 Corsa in late August last year (2008). I flew out to
Wichita and drove it all the way back to Indianapolis. I did not have any
noise while shifting at first, but the weather turned cold at night within a
week after I got home and I started to get that noise in the mornings and I
was only driving the car on the weekends. I feared the worst as I remember
that noise very well. But our local, every Corvair experienced, Chevy
mechanic told me to wait and see if it quits with more driving. It did
eventually quit and is now over a year later.

Now it if does not quit in a fairly short period, like a week of daily
driving, then you should bite the bullet.

Carlton Smith
65 Corsa Turbo , convert.
Indianapolis, IN         

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Ray Rodriguez (Grymm)
Sent: Sunday, September 06, 2009 8:35 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> help! intermittent nasty noise when clutching

66 corsa 140/4 coupe (all stock except wheels/tires)

At first I thought the clutch was going, but now I'm pretty sure thats not
it...

Purchased the car yesterday 10 hours from home..... drove 5 hours or so with
no problems or noise.  After dinner I started it up and raised the idle with
the stop screw...  I also turned on the heat and the blower for the first
time (well I did check it before purchase).  When I got in the car and
started to back up I got a very loud awful noise as I was releasing the
clutch.....

Sounds kinda like a belt does when an alternator or idler locks up...
screeching/rubbing kind of noise.. not real high pitched  very hard to
describe.

I drove a little bit and went to sleep for the night.  Got up in the
morning.. first 3 minutes no noise, then it returned and continued to get
the noise any time I was slipping the clutch (basically starting from a
stop) for about an hour or so... every time, consistently.  Stopped for gas
and when I left the gas station the sound was gone entirely...  sounded
perfect for the next 4 hours of driving... not a sqeak.  I tried to get it
to make noise.. wouldnt do it.

Just before I arrived at home I started getting the sound again, but this
time when shifting gears... as I shift into the next gear...   not always..
maybe 30% of the time....   but no noise at all when starting from a stop
now.... odd.


Also let me add, the clutch feels fine.. no slipping... no grabbing...  if
it wasnt for the sound all would be perfect.  I'm going to try to get a
recording of the noise... but so far it refuses to make the noise any time
I'm prepared to record it!!!



Any ideas?  I'm planning on driving this car to the Corvair Campout this
coming weekend.. want to make sure everything is ok.



Thanks guys!

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