Whenever I try to accelerate from first to second gear faster than ussuall, my RPM's go steadily up to about 3000 and then suddenly skip up to about 5500 or 6000 and the engine makes an almost electric sounding high pitched squeel...does anyone know whats going on here?

 

Anyone know? I have experienced a similar problem at higher rpm's.

 

If the engine actually increases speed, it sounds like the clutch is bad.
Does the engine sound like it's increasing rpm that fast or you are just going by the tach? It could just be the alternator belt which is slipping and squealing, which might cause electrical noise to interfere with the tack. I don't think the tach would typically act up, though. Push firmly on the belt between the pulleys and it should deflect less than half an inch.

There are a few ways to check the clutch. A couple:
While stopped with the E-brake applied, push in the clutch and put it in 5th gear. Increase the rpm a bit (1500 or so) and hold it while letting out the clutch. The engine should stall.
Or while rolling at 30 or 40 mph, shift to 4th gear and floor the gas. The engine should stay at a low rpm and bog. If it revs up, the clutch is gone. The squealing in this case would be the clutch rivets eating the flywheel.
Hope it's the belt.
-John.

 

no, it sounds funny too...

its sounds like the RPM's are building up just fine to 3000 - 3500 and it takes about 2 seconds with the pedal to the floor to build up to that. Then the engine suddenly starts squeeling (it sounds like an electric motor) and the RPM's insantly jump up to 5500 or 6000...
I cant figure out if there is something wrong with the engine or if I'm just trying to push it too hard...

 

sounds like the clutch is slipping, and the alternator or other belt is slipping at the same time. rev the engine up quickly in nuetral and if the squeling occurs. if it does, its the belt. and any instant jumping of the RPMs will be a bad or slipping clutch

 

Yeah, on mine, you could take it up to 6k and when you pushed in the clutch to shift, the engine would go VROOOM and the rpms would soar into 7k. I was off the gas the whole time during the shift too. Weird...