I JUST GOT A 1981 THAT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR. iT'S RUNNING LIKE CRAP, BUT THAT'S NOT MY MAIN PROBLEM. WHEN I GOT IT, THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS FROZEN TO THE CLUTCH, SO I JARRED IT LOOSE BY STARTING THE CAR IN GEAR WITH CLUTCH IN AND THAT BROKE IT LOOSE. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS NOW WITH THE CAR RUNNING, AND THE CLUTCH IN, I CAN SHIFT IT, BUT WHEN I LET UP ON THE CLUTCH, IT DOESN'T MOVE. HERE'S THE ROUTINE

GET IN
FIRE IT UP
CLUTCH IN
SHIFT TO FIRST
GENTLY LET CLUTCH OUT
NO MOVEMENT!

ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED
PS. THE CLUTCH MUST BE DEPRESSED TO GET IT INTO GEAR WHILE RUNNING

 

I had the same problem my brother never figured out what was up. Went ahead and bought a new clutch when I overhauled the engine it works great now. Sorry im no help but I feel ya.

 

Hey David

Have you tried this in every gear?

 

haven't tried it in every gear

 

If it was that rusted in the first place, I'd be pulling it apart to find out what's wrong. My guess is it will need a complete clutch and flywheel. Unless you get lucky and it's only the throwout bearing that is binding.

 

3 things ...

1. take the CAPS lock off
2. you should probably pull it and see for yourself what's going on. my friend had a frozen/rusted clutch in his BMW 535is and he still was able to pull 100 MPH in 3rd gear!
3. how do you know it's not the tranny?