Thread: Tranny Issue or Clutch Issue?

I have a manual '99 G20t that has been poorly maintained previous to my buying it. The car has about 168,000 miles on it and it is definately showing some of it's age and neglect. The problem I'm having is that it tends to really thump (audible and I can feel it under my feet) into first gear. Once it's warmed up a bit, I have to baby it into gear or it lurches like it's being driven by a 15 year old with a learner's permit. So, do you think it's my tranny or my clutch? I've never felt a car do this before. One of my buddies thought the pressure plate was just shot but I'm not so sure. Jeez I don't want to source a hydraulic tranny for this car!

sounds like a clutch problem.

I was halfway to saying engine mounts before you went on to say it's a temperature related issue...
Have you tried rocking the engine back and forth in the engine bay to see how much play there is in the mounts? Could be the rear mount in particular which is also unfortunately the one you can't see without jacking the car.

You know, the thumping into first is all the time but the lurching is heat related. I think it's the clutch and the mounts. The material in the mounts is absolutely falling out of their mounts. They are so soft and warped it looks like playdough. I'll replace both the clutch and the mounts and see if that does the trick. I'll just be relieved not to have to source or rebuild the tranny!

Thanks

If you're planning on doing hte clutch anyway, then nevermind, but I'd suggest replacing the mounts first and then seeing if it completely eliminates the issue.

I need to replace the clutch with something I'm confident in because the VE is in the garage just waiting to be prepped and dropped in. I figure I'll do it all as long as I have the tranny dropped anyway. Thanks for the advice.

If you are installing a VE, it will work well to install the new clutch and tranny onto the VE before pulling the whole ungainly affair up into the engine bay. I did it this way with my VE swap (B13) and I think I even left the driver's side axle on the tranny.