I am wondering if anyone can help me with my problem. I have a 74 duster with a 360 and a 4 speed. The other day when i went to back up the car as soon as i put the car into reverse it makes a noise even with the clutch still pushed in. to describe the noise i would say it kinda seems like the starter running. but i know that isnt the issue. it only does this when it is in reverse. any pointers as what this could be thanks

Its at a dead stop as soon as you push in the clutch and then shift into reverse as soon as it hits reverse it does it.

Assume the car is at a full stop. With the clutch disengaged the input shaft and countershaft are still free to turn from friction as long as the trans is in neutral. As soon as you engage a gear everything in the trans stops turning until the clutch is engaged.

So with the car stopped, shifting the trans into reverse should do NOTHING since nothing is turning - maybe just a little gear clash as you engage reverse but nothing more and it should not be continuous.

So, if you are getting a continuous noise then I'd suggest looking outside the box (no pun intended). Its strange that it would only do it in reverse but consider the throwout bearing - which only turns when the clutch is disengaged.

The only other thought is that reverse is not fully engaging at the teeth are grinding but in that case you wouldn't be able to back the car up at all.

Check the easy stuff first - outside the box!

Yeah it isnt that it isnt engaging due to it still moves when i let out on the clutch. and also the noise doesnt go away when the clutch is released either. if that helps any. i dont know anything about these 4 speeds so im just trying to look to others before a garage. thanks

Your last comment says it will continue to make the noise when the clutch is released - in neutral or in gear ???

I doubt the problem is inside the box. That leaves the pilot bushing/bearing in the back of the crank or the throwout bearing.

I doubt its the pilot bushing/bearing as this ONLY sees use when the clutch is depressed and the trans is in gear (the input shaft is not spinning and the crank is). Since the crank and input shaft are always turning at the same speed when the clutch is engaged there should be no noise from that.

So that leaves the throwout bearing and this is a common enough problem. I can't tell you how you'd pinpoint it precisely but I can't see it being anything else given your symptoms and explanation.

A replacement is about $50 but requires the removal of the trans. Pull the driveshaft, undo all shift linkage, remove the shifter, undo wiring, undo speedo cable, support the rear of the engine, remove trans crossmember, lower the engine/trans, pull out the trans - STRAIGHT OUT or you screw up the clutch. Now you can replace the throwout bearing and put it all back together.

thanks ill try to replace that and see what that does. ill let everyone know how it works out thanks you greatly.

Ok i now have isolated the noise and know what it is but any pointers on what this could be. if i have the ignition in run and put the car in reverse it starts the car. so i know that the noise is the starter running just unsure what could cause this. i have talked to some people and they have no clue and i dont either.

Check your reverse switch and neatral safety switch wiring, and possibly your start relay. It sounds like somehow the reverse circuit is backfeeding into the neutral saftey circuit (which goes to the start relay) causing it to kick the start relay on. Try unplugging the reverse switch plug and see if it does it?

the only wires i can find is there is 2 wires that hook into the transmission. if i disconnect one of the wires it wont make that noise in reverse but it wont start with the key i have to use something across the starter relay. could it be that sensor on the transmission bad.

i just put the relay on today. i pulled both wires of the transmission and back traced them. then it gets spliced into 3 wires and one leads to the relay. im guessing thats why the starter was engaging. when the wire for the reverse switch was getting power it was splicing into the power of the relay. im trying to go through it now. thanks for the help im sure ill be back something somewhere isnt right.

See if this helps (if it isn't the relay then SOMETHING is backfeeding into it, and logically it is the trans wires):

ok i found the issue. someone had the wires wrong. they had the ground wire running to the reverse switch so when i would put the car in reverse it would send signal back through and short out the relay. the diagram really helped out thank you greatly

Glad I could help

ok thanks everyone. the car is now running and transmission shifting as it should. now just gotta get little tuning here and there done and ill be all set.