Every now and then when I shift into 3rd gear I get a grinding noise....yes, my foot is on the clutch. 88 Vert

 

I have the same exact problem, it actually happened to me tonight. It seems to happen when I try to shift from second into third really hard/fast. I'm guessing the syncro for third is going bad, or maybe it needs a transmission oil change.

 

I've never been able to nail 3rd.

Replacing worn shift bushings helped.
Installing a torque brace helped.
Repositioning the gas pedal helped.
Taking the excess slack out of the throttle cable helped.

But I still take ~500 milliseconds into 3rd.

 

I ALWAYS scratch 2nd if I dont double clutch. (Maybe it is just me)

I've not had a problem with 3rd other then one time when I missed it entirely . . . O_O

 

2nd is easy - just don't outrun the syncros.
Short shift 1st around 6K.
Then let 2nd do the full pull.
video example

 

Ya'll might try some synthetic gear oil like readline MT-90. Its some good stuff. It helped my tranny shift a whole lot cleaner.

Steve

 

Ditto here, going into 2nd is a nightmare, I'm sure its the syncros but I'm not about to shell out half a grand for a rebuilt or new tranny, so I just shift really slow into second, but sometimes it just has a hard time going in, like something is blocking it. Downshifting into 2nd or 1st is even worst, theres a super high pitched whirring noise whenever I do it, but the whirring slows down after a sec. Still not good though!

 

Same here without the grinding, I get a clanking noise in low rpm clutch disengagement. I think She doesn't like to go slow.

I'm replacing my hydraulics this week, though. I'll post results.

 

redline mt-90 or transmission rebuild

 

I grind sometimes on third unless I shift pretty deliberately. The bushings need replaced though, the handle's awfully sloppy. Hopefully that'll at least help, plus take away the sloppiness. Hmmm, maybe I should spring for a short shifter, that'd be slick, though the throw length doesn't bother me.

--Ian

 

People with slighly scratchy transmissions might want to try the Redline Shockwave Tranny Fluid...

 

getting a rb tourque brace helped me keep from going into fifth by accident. i can usaly grab 3rd pretty fast and it only grinds once in a while. i have to short shift into 2nd at about 7k if i want to get into it in any sort of reasonable time. but then i fall out of vdi range. phooee.

by the way, love the backround music bill