I've ran a search on this but get too big of a variety of answers. My 87 TA makes a very loud popping sound when accelerating from a stand still and then again when it shifts out of first in WOT. My best guess is a u joint but wondering if anybody else had an idea? any help appreciated.

 

Sounds like it needs a transmission mount, like these cars ALWAYS do.

Don't use a stock replacement unless you think you'd enjoy doing it again regularly. Get a Prothane or Energy Suspension one so you don't have to change it again after the next hard shift.

 

If it's your tranny mount consider this:

If you use a stock replacement the car will shift normally and the rubber bussing will take much of the abuse. Factory rubber bushings provide a "smoother" ride compared to a hard compond replacement.

If you replace the tranny mount with a POLY bushing and you have a 2 piece crossmember than the 2 rubber bussings on the crossmember will take MUCH more abuse that they were designed for and will wear out much faster. I'd recomend changing these 2 bushings to POLY as well.

If you replace the tranny mount with a POLY bushing and you have a 1 piece crossmember than you will "feel" every shift. ( same is true if you replace all 2 bushings on a 2 piece crossmember set-up.) The poly bushing may as well be solid as it doesn't absorb much vibration at all.

Tranny mounts wear out because of the abuse they absorb everytime the vehicle is driven. That's thier job. If you replace any bushing with POLY it's always recomended to change all related bushings to POLY so the remaining ( rubber ) bushings are not overstressed.

P.S. This could very well be a motor mount problem as well. Open the hood and work the throttle with your hand and watch the engine to see if it lifts of the engine mount under heavy throttle. To check the tranny mount just stick a jack under the tranny without disconnecting anything to see if it lifts off the crossmember when the jack is raised.

 

I guess feeling the shift wouldnt be that bad, as it shifts very hard already, tranny was built by TCI. I cant check the motor mounts right now because the head gasket blew . I will check the tranny mount to start since it is very simple. thanks for the input.