Question Hello Sir--My 3 speed 49 Merc has started making a clunking noise when the clutch is out--even in neutral-car has 53,000 miles-it's garaged for the last 35 years and only driven 30 miles a year--I am afraid to even back it out to wash it--thinkin I may really cause some damage--Hope you can tell me what is wrong with it----thank you--Jim Gentry
AnswerI am assuming that you mean that you hear the noise only when your foot is off the clutch pedal. If this is wrong, please disregard the following and post a follow up question to me so we get it right.
When your foot is off the clutch pedal with the engine running, 2 things are happening. One is that the input shaft of the transmission is turning. The other thing is that the pressure of the clutch springs is holding the clutch disc firmly against the flywheel. This can mean the problem is either in the front bearing of the transmission, which is the most likely cause, or something is wrong with the clutch itself.
Either way, to investigate this, the transmission has to be taken out of the car. To avoid unnecessary damage, you need to have the car towed with the rear wheels off the ground (flatbed tow is best) to a shop which repairs manual transmissions and is somewhat familiar with antique cars, because this car has an enclosed driveline, and is difficult to get apart in order to take the transmission out.
It would be best to get it to a mechanic who specializes in flathead Ford products. I don't know where you live, so I cannot recommend a shop.
If you happen to be in the southern California area, post a follow up question to me and I can give you some suggestions as to where to have it taken. To move the car to the tow truck, the safest procedure is to put the transmission in neutral and just manually push the car out of the garage to where the tow truck can winch it onto the flatbed.
Dick
