Car hitches when decelerating in 1st or 2nd

[TBayToyotaBoy]

So I think my timing may be off a little (or the timing belt has stretched, considering that it's so very, very old), but before I go to the hassle of finding then borrowing a timing light, I thought I would ask...

When the car (my V6) is at NOT, gently decelerating or especially coasting in first or second gear causes hitching and bucking at times. When it's still cold or warming up, I don't have the same problem. It's annoying, if not alarming. Given that the engine has almost 400,000km on it, I expect some age-related problems, but this isn't one of them. Other than timing, does anyone have any other ideas? I hate driving in busy parking lots because of this issue.

[TBayToyotaBoy]

Well, I'm not particularly surprised that no one weighed-in on this one, but I think I may have figured out the problem.

I sea-foamed the engine via the booster vacuum line, and it cleaned a lot of crap out--no surprise. Now that the pick-up is so much improved, the hitching problem has become aggravated. I'm pretty sure my crank--as old and worn as it is--has developed some play. When going from a coast to decelerating in low gear(s), the extra and unwanted crank play causes the hitching and bucking.

Nothing to do but swap-in my spare engine come spring, I guess...damned winter cold.

[fredk]

check the twist mounts