Carburetor Noise

[SailorJim]

Howdy, folks. Thanks for lots of good info over the years, but I finally have to ask a question that hasn't been covered (as far as I can tell).

I have a manual 5-speed 1994 Pick-up with around 150,000 miles on it and no major work done (because no major problems ever came up). Today, out of the blue, the carburetor starts making a sort of squeak in fifth gear. It sounded a bit like something metal scraping the side of the truck and it sounded a bit like when a small rock is caught under the windshield wipers ... that sort of squeak. Not a prolonged, continuous noise, just every once in a while.

I down shifted and nothing, it sounded fine. I shifted back to fifth and the sound had vanished, but then I had to accelerate for a hill and it came back and more often.

I figure it has to be the transmission, because the sound completely disappeared when I took it out of gear and revved the engine, and I figure it has to be fifth gear because it doesn't happen in any other.

Any ideas what this could be or how serious it is?

[12Ounce]

Worn clutch perhaps????

[SailorJim]

Is it possible for a worn clutch to only make noises in one gear, but not in another?

[12Ounce]

A worn clutch is more noticeable ... noise, slipping or whatever... usually in top gear when the vehicle presents the most torque-load to the drive train.

Does pushing the clutch pedal affect the noise?

[SailorJim]

Yeah, stops it completely, actually, but wouldn't that also happen if it was the tranny?

[12Ounce]

Possibly, but I'm betting on the clutch. The gears are still being pulled along, (but with no load) when the clutch is engaged.