I don't really want to join a Chevy forum, so...if anyone is willing to help...

My work truck is an abused 99 Silverado, 4x4 5 speed. 150,000 miles, already on its second transmission, and I'm pretty sure the syncros are starting to go out again. This truck saw a lot of dirt roads and abuse by seasonal employees.

I'm not positive of the diagnosis, but this is what I think: The syncros are starting to go, but the mechanic I sometimes bring it to agrees that it can be limped along almost indefinitely if that's what I want to do, if it is the syncros. But also the clutch seems to be going. It's sometimes hard to get in & out of gear, especially first gear. When I first start it, especially when it's been sitting for awhile, with it in first gear, clutch pressed in, I hear a rasping, scraping noise coming from under the truck. It stops immediately when put it in neutral and let out the clutch. The gears grind while driving mostly shifting into third, definitely when downshifting, but if I get the rpms high enough upshifting it'll grind going into third when I'm upshifting. I'm thinking that's the tranny.

I work for a small organization that typically requires people provide their own vehicle and get reimbursed for mileage. My truck is a 98 Tacoma with 280,000 miles. I can't afford to replace it, I love it, and I don't want to drive it into the ground for this job. A friend of mine sold us this Chevy for $1. Basically he was going to donate it to us but his organization I think saw more benefit from selling it cheap and writing it off as a loss? Not sure. I didn't argue. We can't afford major repairs. We can afford a clutch kit but I'll be doing the job myself.

So the plan is to replace the clutch and limp the tranny as long as I can.

Any thoughts on the diagnosis and plan?

 

Im not a chevy guy but the plan sounds good to me. Those silverados have a pretty good reputation. Id drive one if i could find one at a reasonable price.

So I havent had my coffee yet but sounds like the plan is to do a clutch job for now and let the syncro issue slide? Sounds fine for a work truck. You might be able to double clutch around some gear issues for a little longer life. Id probably look around for a used tranny. If youre dropping it to do the clutch, you might get lucky with a new unit.

Have you put in a new MC or bled the lines?

 

That's a good point about looking for a used tranny. The engines on this year range Chevy seem to be pretty reliable. But the trannys...different story.

Yes, the plan is do the clutch and get by with a failing tranny.

No on the MC question, but you reminded me that it was part of my plan to replace both master and release cylinder. Problem is the release cylinder is inside the bell housing for some reason...so I'll do both as part of the clutch job.

 

Well it sounds like about what Id do in the same situation.
I know bow tie forums have a reputation, but its worth a shot asking people who know about those trucks.
Youve always got a safe home over here to come back to.