Gear Noise - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

alta-aj · 08-17-2002, 10:59 PM

I have a 69 Chevy 4x4 with a Rockwell T221 linked to an SM465 4 speed. Both have just recently been rebuilt but ever since I can remember (and that's a long time cuz my dad bought the truck brand new) they have been noisy when travelling above 45 mph or so. Although I think it is the T.C. that's the culprt< I'm not sure. I just have standard gear oil in these boxes at the moment. I'm wondering if any of you have recommendations on a type of oil that might quite things down some?

6869704X4 · 08-18-2002, 02:34 PM

Turn up the radio.hehe
Those are some noisy trans.

69gmcfleet · 08-20-2002, 09:43 PM

My truck has the same setup and everything is stock and works great, but it still has a noise to them at speed. I think it is mostly my tranny though. I think it is the nature of the beast.
Like he said, turn up the radio!

palallin · 08-20-2002, 11:53 PM

I don't have all the answers, but aren't the gears in the Rockwell straight cut? If so, they will make more noise. . . .

**Yukon Jack** · 08-21-2002, 04:00 PM

No suggestions my way either. I have a 3 speed manual and Rockwell T221 and it's pretty noisy . . . and I don't have a radio to turn up!

69gmcfleet · 08-28-2002, 06:53 PM

I believe that the Muncie SM465 has damn near straight cut gears also. My truck in 4th gear has a high whining noise to it. I am not sure about the Rockwell case since I never leave 2nd in 4wd. My truck rides way to rough to hit speed. I would say the Rockwell gears are straight cut also.

alta-aj · 08-31-2002, 08:48 PM

- I was just hoping that there was a gear oil that could help.

OK, I'll turn the radio up - in fact, just got lucky enough to find an original AM/FM - for $10. There was no slider bar though - it cost me $20! - Now I can 'pump out the tunes!' - ya, right!

Cheers all,

Al

Mike C · 09-03-2002, 09:59 AM

There should be virtually ZERO gear noise from the trans/transfer case in top gear and high range. Both of these scenarios send power STRAIGHT through without any gears carrying a load. Sounds like R&P noise to me. My 465/205 combo is pretty darn quiet on the road (tires and 4.10 are a different story however). Put the transfer case in 4 high though, and who needs an indicator light? You will KNOW it is engaged from the massive amounst of gear noise from the straight cut gears of the 205.

GrungyCoin · 09-03-2002, 10:14 PM

Rockwell cases the power gets transfered to the idler shaft and then to the output shaft in 2H. The gear whine will be louder when the idler shaft gets wear between the gear and shaft (this causes misallignment therefore louder whine), not too much you can do with it. I fixed mine up good, but it did requier modification and a whole new idler shaft. As far as transmission whine there really shouldn't be any in high gear. Power is transmitted straight thru, the counter shaft is still spinning though, but with no load there should be no whine. As far as lube my '67 GM service manuel says "Either SAE 80 or SAE 80-90 multi-purpose gear lubricant". Ditto that for the transfer case.

Mike C · 09-03-2002, 10:31 PM

Another reason to lose the Rockwell!

mardenmaine · 09-05-2002, 09:20 AM

my 67 4x4 whines pretty bad too... the loud stereo is ok but some heat shield/ sound dampening material (mines from jcwhitney) has done alot to make the sound levels inside the cab liveable... be sure to buy alot of the material for it takes alot to do an effective job...

palallin · 09-05-2002, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike C
Another reason to lose the Rockwell!

That seems a little extreme: the noise is mechanical music!

08-17-2002, 10:59 PM	#1
alta-aj Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Qualicum Beach, B.C>, Canada Posts: 117	Gear Noise I have a 69 Chevy 4x4 with a Rockwell T221 linked to an SM465 4 speed. Both have just recently been rebuilt but ever since I can remember (and that's a long time cuz my dad bought the truck brand new) they have been noisy when travelling above 45 mph or so. Although I think it is the T.C. that's the culprt< I'm not sure. I just have standard gear oil in these boxes at the moment. I'm wondering if any of you have recommendations on a type of oil that might quite things down some?

08-18-2002, 02:34 PM	#2
6869704X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SE NM Posts: 769	Turn up the radio.hehe Those are some noisy trans. __________________ The more I learn about women, the more I love my truck.

08-20-2002, 09:43 PM	#3
69gmcfleet Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oneonta, NY, US Posts: 103	My truck has the same setup and everything is stock and works great, but it still has a noise to them at speed. I think it is mostly my tranny though. I think it is the nature of the beast. Like he said, turn up the radio! __________________ Jeff '69 GMC K2500 LWB, '74 350/SM465/Rockwell T-221, cnD44/ffD60, 3.73 gears, 31" BFG's (originally had 305ci V-6) '05 VW golf '84 HD Sportster XLX '68 GMC K2500 parts beast

08-20-2002, 11:53 PM	#4
palallin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. James, MO Posts: 1,239	I don't have all the answers, but aren't the gears in the Rockwell straight cut? If so, they will make more noise. . . . __________________ '69 Longstep K-10: 327/SM465/T-221/Closed Knuckle Dana44/12-bolt.

08-21-2002, 04:00 PM	#5
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	No suggestions my way either. I have a 3 speed manual and Rockwell T221 and it's pretty noisy . . . and I don't have a radio to turn up! __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

08-28-2002, 06:53 PM	#6
69gmcfleet Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Oneonta, NY, US Posts: 103	I believe that the Muncie SM465 has damn near straight cut gears also. My truck in 4th gear has a high whining noise to it. I am not sure about the Rockwell case since I never leave 2nd in 4wd. My truck rides way to rough to hit speed. I would say the Rockwell gears are straight cut also. __________________ Jeff '69 GMC K2500 LWB, '74 350/SM465/Rockwell T-221, cnD44/ffD60, 3.73 gears, 31" BFG's (originally had 305ci V-6) '05 VW golf '84 HD Sportster XLX '68 GMC K2500 parts beast

08-31-2002, 08:48 PM	#7
alta-aj Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Qualicum Beach, B.C>, Canada Posts: 117	Thanks for your input guys. - I was just hoping that there was a gear oil that could help. OK, I'll turn the radio up - in fact, just got lucky enough to find an original AM/FM - for $10. There was no slider bar though - it cost me $20! - Now I can 'pump out the tunes!' - ya, right! Cheers all, Al

09-03-2002, 09:59 AM	#8
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,709	There should be virtually ZERO gear noise from the trans/transfer case in top gear and high range. Both of these scenarios send power STRAIGHT through without any gears carrying a load. Sounds like R&P noise to me. My 465/205 combo is pretty darn quiet on the road (tires and 4.10 are a different story however). Put the transfer case in 4 high though, and who needs an indicator light? You will KNOW it is engaged from the massive amounst of gear noise from the straight cut gears of the 205. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

09-03-2002, 10:14 PM	#9
GrungyCoin Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Buckley, WA Posts: 22	Prone to gear whine Rockwell cases the power gets transfered to the idler shaft and then to the output shaft in 2H. The gear whine will be louder when the idler shaft gets wear between the gear and shaft (this causes misallignment therefore louder whine), not too much you can do with it. I fixed mine up good, but it did requier modification and a whole new idler shaft. As far as transmission whine there really shouldn't be any in high gear. Power is transmitted straight thru, the counter shaft is still spinning though, but with no load there should be no whine. As far as lube my '67 GM service manuel says "Either SAE 80 or SAE 80-90 multi-purpose gear lubricant". Ditto that for the transfer case.

09-03-2002, 10:31 PM	#10
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,709	Another reason to lose the Rockwell! __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

09-05-2002, 09:20 AM	#11
mardenmaine Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Guilford, ME, USA Posts: 3	deaden the sound... my 67 4x4 whines pretty bad too... the loud stereo is ok but some heat shield/ sound dampening material (mines from jcwhitney) has done alot to make the sound levels inside the cab liveable... be sure to buy alot of the material for it takes alot to do an effective job...

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