Help with 71 911?! Thunk and grind in first??

[PorscheRyan911]

OK, I have been driving my 71,911 daily. I have never any problems shifting, nice and smooth. Today for the first time it started making a grinding noise followed by a thunk when I shifted into first gear from a stopped position. It has done it the majority of the time today, but not every time. When I investigated further (Pulled out the kick plate and carpet) I also noticed that the clutch pedal doesn't come out all they way, their is about a 1/4" of play to the back rubber bushing that stops the pedal, I am not sure if that is normal? The clutch pedal also has a small bit of play from side to side, is this normal? Do you think the clutch cable just needs to be adjusted or its something more serious? If so, where is it located and how do I adjust it? Could it be a lack of transmission fluid? How do I check the level? Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks-Ryan

[silverc4s]

THe clutch pedal has bushings that it pivots on. They are worn if the lever can wobble visibly side to side.
The clutch cable may be coming unraveled, getting ready to break on you when you least desire it to do so. a stretched cable will fail to disengage the clutch properly, causing just what you describe.
It's repair time...;-)

[FrayAdjacent911]

My '70 seems to be somewhat similar... although I haven't noticed a 'THUNK' sound... it does seem to want to grind a bit going into first from a stop. I figured it may need some adjustment on the clutch... but I may just have to replace the whole cable just to be on the safe side.

[rw7810]

My guess is you broke the ears off the nylon trunyon back near the bell housing. Get under the car and check all of the cable linkage. When you break the pivot inside the bellhousing the pedal goes to the floor. You will break this eventually.

[PorscheRyan911]

OK I just jacked the car up and checked the clutch cable, It appears to be fine. I tightened it up a tad and lubricated it. When you say the cable may be coming unraveled, do you mean it is frayed? RW, you said I may have broke the ears off the nylon trunyon back near the bell housing. Could you explain a tad more as to what that is. I am a youngin and still learning about cars, I am sorry but have no idea what you just said please bare with me. Their is a plastic cover over the cable that is split, but nothing is frayed or broken, is this what you just described? I checked the linkage toward the rear of the car by the wingnut and it appeared to be fine. You also said If I brake the pivot inside the bellhousing the pedal goes to the floor please explain this too if you don't mind. Any help on how to check this stuff out and where it is will be greatly appreciated! I have gotten help on here before and I somehow managed to fix it so I would be very very happy if I managed to fix this. Thanks again in advance.

PS, if i put the car in second prior to first at a dead stop nothing happends at all?

[Jack Olsen]

Couldn't hurt to check your CV joints, too.