Hey guys new to the forums but I recently bought a 89 pickup 3.0 5 speed 4x4 and the issue I'm having is that it will go into 3rd and 4th gear but it wont pull. I looked into the shifter bushings but everything there looks to be in decent shape and I couldn't imagine it being shift forks because it goes into the gears easily. Any help would be really appreciated.

 

Elaborate please, kind of vague.

Gear ratio?
Tire sizes?
Engine RPM when you release the clutch?
Vehicle speed when shifting?
Terrain you are on, head wind?

​​A problem well described is a problem half solved, to paraphrase RAD..

Keep in mind your driving a low horse power SUV built and designed in a couple decades ago, so if your expecting snap the seat back off acceleration you're going to have to adjust your expectations a bit or cut the seat back braces with a hacksaw.

 

Its on 32x11.50s. Itll go into 1st and 2nd gear and pull fine but when it goes into 3rd and 4th it's like it's in neutral. Even if the truck is sitting still I can put it into 3rd hold the break and slowly release the clutch and its like its not even in gear. The truck wont bog it just sits at a constant idle almost like the clutch is slipping

 

Your killing me.. Ok let's assume I know what you mean by pull..

Rev the engine to say 3000rpm, put the shifter into 3rd and slowly release the clutch. Does it change engine rpm more than oh I dunno 1000rpm by the time you take your foot completely off the clutch pedal, or does it slowly decrease engine rpm? If you are driving along at uh 30 mph in 2nd and shift to 3rd and release the clutch does the vehicle decelerate to a stop regardless of how fast you rev the engine.


Here is an example of a healthy clutch and transmission. I can put my transmission I to 5th or 4th gear and release the clutch slowly and feel the chassis shift to take the load as the engine Roms start to drop. If I put the transmission into 3rd with the vehicle not moving and hold the throttle at 3000 and slowly release the clutch while mashing the throttle more to keep the engine rpm at 3000 it will start to move..

How about you put the transmission in 3rd or 4th gear with the engine off, can you get behind it and push the vehicle like it's in neutral. If you can your transmission is broken.