Shifting question?
 

Have an 84 with 97K, had the shifter bushings replaced a few weeks back and have put on maybe 250 miles since then. The shifting is vastly improved but just the other day I noticed that upon initial startup (cold) I get a grind if I try to put it directly into first. No problem with any other gear and no issue after that.

Do I lose sleep over it?

TIA,
Ralph

No, just start saving up for a trans. rebuild in a few years.

Try putting it in 2nd before going into 1st.

Clutch adjust, and/or adjust the pinch fitting on the shifter splines (under the four bolt cover on the tunnel in front of the back seats).

As Randy said, put it into 2nd before going into first. That should help some.

The graunch is because your first gear synchro isn't doing it's job quite like it used to. That noise is caused by the teeth on the slider (aka operating sleeve) catching the teeth on the synchro hub before they reach the same speed. Each time it graunches, you shave a tiny bit off the tip of a few of those teeth. When the teeth run out, the synchro won't hold the transmission together in that gear anymore, and so you won't be able to drive with that gear.

:) Go easy on first, and it could last a long time.

Dan