I just recently bought a '77 280z 5 speed all original drivetrain nothing swapped in or out. Occasionally when driving at about 2800 rpms i get a noise from what seems to be coming from the transmission tunnel that sounds like a whining puppy. Any ideas on the culprit? Or is it nothing to be concerned with?

Doesn't seem like a common noise. Has the car been sitting or driven regularly? Is it always 2800 RPM, no matter what gear or just 2800 RPM in a certain gear? Have you checked the fluid level in the transmission?

Could be the pilot bushing.

Edited December 13, 201113 yr by Zed Head

You should pull the drain plug and see if there are pieces of the bearing races in the fluid (or any other pieces of metal for that matter). The plug should be magnetic and will attract metallic particles.

I changed the fluid and found no shavings and when i changed the fluid i filled it to the fill hole with redline mtl. and the noise is always at 2800 in any gear

and the car gets driven regularly. bout 4 or 5 times a week

It's not the pilot bushing/bearing.It's at or past the output shaft.

Z train is right, I was off target on the pilot bushing. The crankshaft, pilot bushing and input shaft are all spinning at the same speed when the clutch is engaged, so it wouldn't make a noise while you're cruising.

Examine the the things that all spin at the same speed as the crankshaft or come in to contact with it and you might come up with something. Maybe your throwout bearing is touching the springs.

Z train, did you mean input shaft? Isn't the output shaft spinning at a speed proportional to road speed, independent of RPM?

No, i meant output shaft.SLIM possibility that it is the tailshaft bushing(not likely).If i were a betting man, i'd go with the u-joints or further back.

Before I upgraded the alternator I had a noise that behaved like that, a low wine that came in around 2500 and increased with RPM, but it was there regardless of what gear the car was in or how fast I was moving. Or even parked.

I assume you or your neighbors haven't lost any pets recently? ;-) Does the sound have a pattern, or is it pretty solid? Does it happen at 2800 rpm sitting still?

I have this same issue on my car. Same year and transmission. However when I depress the clutch this "whurring" noise goes away. Transmission was professionally rebuilt by prior owner. Although I know my tailshaft seal is leaking because the passenger side of the transmission tunnel is wet. However it never leaks a drop parked.

I have this same issue on my car. Same year and transmission. However when I depress the clutch this "whurring" noise goes away. Transmission was professionally rebuilt by prior owner. Although I know my tailshaft seal is leaking because the passenger side of the transmission tunnel is wet. However it never leaks a drop parked.

Sounds like your countershaft bearing is on its way out.