I have a 1955 T-Bird with 3-speed overdrive. Everything is completely stock with 67,000 original miles. I am noticing a "growling" type noise from what i think is the transmission/driveshaft area. When coasting at low speed the noise disappears when i put the clutch in. Anybody have a similar experience? Any ideas as to what needs fixin'?

Steve

Possibly throwout bearing or trans input shaft bearing.Both those will sometimes give that symptom.

Is it the same in all gears? 1,2,3?

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Check u-joints


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

From experience I'm 99% sure it's the throwout bearing. Seeing as you will have to take the trans out to replace it, I would suggest you replace the clutch disk at the same time. 

The clutch throw out bearing is not normally  turning or doing anything when the clutch pedal is all the way out (unless it is severely out of adjustment).  You say the growling goes away when you put the clutch in - that is when the throw out bearing would be under load and turning.  The growling you describe is typical of a rear axle gear growl.  When you put the clutch in, the load is taken off the rear axle ring and pinion gear set and the growling would likely go away. Perhaps the noise is traveling up the drive shaft and it seems like the noise is coming from the transmission.

I think you hit the bull eye on that one. Worked on a '62 Galaxie that had the very same symptom. It was the pinion bearing on the rear end that was doing all the fuss. Once you was on the driver's seat, you could swear the noise did come from the transmission (three speed with over). The noise has the strange way of travelling trough the driveshaft, that is hollow and serves as a perfect resonance chamber.

Túlio Lazzaroni "FORD", Florianópolis SC Brasil.

'74 Ford Galaxie 500 292 V8

'82 Ford Galaxie Landau 302 V8

'98 Chevrolet S10 4.3 V6

'01 Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec

,,,,maybe bad motor, trans.mount,,,exhaust pipe on the frame ?