Alright gentlemen (and few ladies too, although if you're on here, you must have one lucky man). So here's the deal:

I got a great deal on this 1992 RS (TBI 305 V-8/5spd Manual) but once I got it home this summer it stopped running. I am in college and have no job, so it took me about 2 months to get the parts to get it back running (A new Distributor, Spark Plugs, Battery, and Starter). Two weeks ago I went home and installed all three (even the timing w/o a timing light) and got it to crank up and idle. She cranked smoothly and could've not sounded prettier as she set there. Well this happened:

I FINALLY got to drive her and everything was going smoothly, until I got to 3rd gear. When I shifted her to 3rd gear, she was "bumping out of control", I'm talking as if I were going over speed bumps. Because of this I could not get her on the main roads into 4th or 5th, I figured it was smart until I realized if this was a tranny problem or something else.

The Low Down:
-The Bumping is the front and center of the car. Its not a clunk or a scraping, it's a straight thump. As if everything under the hood is about to jump out.
-The guy before me (who took shitty care of this car) said he installed a new clutch with the rebuilt engine that supposedly has only 20k.
-The front tires are in terrible condition with no tread, could this be doing it?

And if that is the case before you get on me just understand the priorities here: Get her running, get her passing inspection (which she doesnt have yet), get a plate (which you need with the inspection in NC), then get her driven to the tire place.

So if it is the tires I might have to put them on myself to get her inspected, I know, but please guys if you think it's a tranny issue speak up before I go spending 100 some dollars on new tires when it could be invested in a trannyy which I am sure is pretty pricey.


THANKS IN ADVANCE
Adam

 

I'm thinking it is the tranny since it doesn't happen in 1st or 2nd. Any signs of anything in 1st or 2nd? Mine is geared so that I can skip 3rd if I bring the revs high enough in 2nd. You might try that to see if there is only an issue with 3rd.

So it was not doing this at all when it stopped running? It seems strange that a mechanical issue would develop without driving the car.

How's the fluid level in the tranny? Also, what type of fluid is in there? Is it ATF or Gear oil? I'm pretty sure yours is supposed to be ATF.

Is it related to RPM in 3rd or speed? If it is speed then you probably have something in the suspension in desperate need of attention. I had a different car that had a similar kind of sound that you are describing. With that issue I could barely hold onto the steering wheel though. It lost one of the control arm to strut bolts on the front. That front wheel swiveled on the remaining bolt until it snapped. It ripped the whole strut and everything out from under the car. Drive it until the wheels fall off, put it back together and keep driving!

 

What does it do if you slam it to the floor in first and second? Im thinking maby tranny mount is broke.???