Crunching after JWest Shifter Bushings and Coupler

[da Vinci Dan]

I replaced my shifter bushings and shift rod coupler per instructions a month ago. I have only driven the car about 200 miles since then. Mostly highway or long country backroad cruising (love PA farm country!) - not much shifting. I am noticing is a slight crunching (more felt than heard) when shifting cold or warm, sometimes when hot, between 1-2, 2-3 and now 4-3. It feels like a harsh, momentary vibration in the shifter as if you can feel the gears slightly grinding but not audibly.

A 4-3 shift last night was loud and metallic sounding. It was as if the clutch was not fully engaged. I played with the shifter between 3-4 gears and with the clutch fully depressed, I was able to replicate the loud crunching several times. I guess I did not want to believe it was happening. The trans and engine were at full operating temp at this point.

Other work performed on car since shifter work: cap and rotors replacement, cat bypass and sport muffler. I am concern I may be now slightly damaging gears / synchros with every shift.

Shifting is smoother when double clutching at full operating temp. However, this was not necessary prior to the intalllation.