Expert: Brad Sears - 5/26/2008

Question
Had my '41 Pontiac Flattie 6, with 3 on the tree in a Holiday Parade. After clutching a thousand times, the car makes a "screeching" noise. Have had this noise on start-up as well(clutch in) because the 3 spd is off for neutral. REAR MAINE SEAL LEAKS LIKE A SIEVE.Fan, fan blade, water pump all look ok. Could the oil leak from the main be causing problems with the clutch from the oil? Any other ideas? Sound lessens if clutch is in. THANX!!

Answer
Are you sure that you are not getting plain old fan belt screech? At parade speeds and a 6 volt DC generator system and some horn beeping you are using more power than the generator can produce. This could cause screeching but you would need to be above idle for this to happen. A dry throw out bearing also comes to mind. But if the clutch were adjusted properly this would not make a noise when your foot was off the clutch. If the clutch is not adjusted properly, less than a 1/2 inch of free play, then it could be the TO bearing. If the screech occurred when the clutch was depressed then it could be TO bearing or the pilot shaft bushing that locates the transmission input shaft at the end of the crankshaft.