The Official 356Talk Forum

Guessing this is normal for these old transmissions (to whine) from the year of 1953. But, told my friend that owns this car, would ask the Registry if this is normal. Think he has been listening to this noise for the past 40+ years... Also, this has a '59 engine in it.

Further, he complains of a hard time to get into reverse. I'm guessing the linkage probably needs to be adjusted.

What would be the test to determine if bearings/gears need to be replaced?

Thanks.

Sounds perfectly normal to me.

Dan
Check the oil. Then.
You could jack it up on stands, remove the wheels and spin it by hand in neutral. Feel for dragging or small jerks, if it feels ok, hold one drum fixed, spin the other. Then start it and idle it in each gear and see if you hear anything.
It does not get driven much so it could have a couple light rusty or dry balls on a bearing.
Put it in 3rd or 4th and run it up to 2500-3000 for a few minutes. Just spin the axels and drums. Let the axels droop and they will fill the wheel bearings end with fresher oil. Get everything rotating and wetted.

If it does not make any unusually loud whining or noises, take it out and drive it fast in a low gear and try to sling some oil around and re wet everything.

Hi
it probably would be prudent to have it torn down while there are a few "experts" practicing their craft.
j

John Lindstrom wrote:Sounds perfectly normal to me.

Think you are right!

John Brooks wrote:Dan
Check the oil. Then.
You could jack it up on stands, remove the wheels and spin it by hand in neutral. Feel for dragging or small jerks, if it feels ok, hold one drum fixed, spin the other. Then start it and idle it in each gear and see if you hear anything.
It does not get driven much so it could have a couple light rusty or dry balls on a bearing.
Put it in 3rd or 4th and run it up to 2500-3000 for a few minutes. Just spin the axels and drums. Let the axels droop and they will fill the wheel bearings end with fresher oil. Get everything rotating and wetted.

If it does not make any unusually loud whining or noises, take it out and drive it fast in a low gear and try to sling some oil around and re wet everything.

Drained the trans fluid last summer. Don't recall seeing anything that looked suspicious and don't think the plug was very bad at all with accumulated swarf. Pumped in gear oil off the shelf, not Swepco, don't remember what it was and was supplied by the owner. Have 201 in the shop, but perhaps 203 would be fine too which is straight 90w.

Once we get it in the air will do what you recommend and see what happens.

Thanks again for your post.

Jacques Lefriant wrote:Hi
it probably would be prudent to have it torn down while there are a few "experts" practicing their craft.
j

Will probably go down this road soon enough.

Thanks for posting here.

He probably needs to take it out and drive the piss out of it. Once she warms up a little, she’ll probably sing on the ride back to the garage. My cars always drive better once they’re warmed up real well.

Does it whine all the time? Under power, coasting, in every gear?

John Lindstrom wrote:He probably needs to take it out and drive the piss out of it. Once she warms up a little, she’ll probably sing on the ride back to the garage. My cars always drive better once they’re warmed up real well.

Will bet the car has not seen a 50 mile drive in years. Only two people have driven this car under the current owner and I drove onto my lift and then off...... Think a spirited drive is certainly in order.

Thank you.

Edwin Ek wrote:Does it whine all the time? Under power, coasting, in every gear?

Not sure on this but will get to test drive once this “little” issue is resolved from a badly placed car and the garage door.....dang.

I asked my mechanic (who has been working on these cars and rebuilding their transmissions since they were new) about this. He said the transmission shouldn't make any more noise than a 741 in good shape. Very possible that it was run out of or low on oil. No way to really figure out the scoop without taking it apart.

Only thing worse than closing the garage door on your 356 is closing the garage door on your friends 356. Ask me how I know...

Dan Kalinski wrote:

Edwin Ek wrote:Does it whine all the time? Under power, coasting, in every gear?

Not sure on this but will get to test drive once this “little” issue is resolved from a badly placed car and the garage door.....dang.

Dan, you have the collective sympathy of the commentariat and if you add $5 to that, it'll get you a cup of coffee from a barista.

John Lindstrom wrote:Only thing worse than closing the garage door on your 356 is closing the garage door on your friends 356. Ask me how I know...

Certainly a very embarrassing moment.....