I've noticed with my T56 lately that it seems like it's hard to get it into first and second gear. I dont know if it's gotten worse or whether it's always been like this as I've been learning to drive it and my driving style has evolved over the past 6 months or so.

But it's hard to get it into first sometimes at a stop. If I throw it in neutral and coast to a stop, sometimes it wont really go in once I'm ready to go again. If I slide it into first as Im rolling to the stop, i can feel it click in, and then once I've stopped I can throw it in neutral, and then throw it right back in just fine. And I've just sort of habitually done it this way 95 percent of the time.

Im guessing this is the synchros, since I would guess the input shaft side of the trans isnt really moving and the driveshaft side is still moving as the car is moving, and the dog teeth line up and it notches right in place as soon as it all lines up. As long as the car doesnt move between the last time first was engaged, it goes right back in just fine. The question I have is... Is this normal? Every time it didnt want to go in I could just throw it back into 2nd, and then put it back into first and it usually will notch itself in at that point. But I wonder if this is a sign of some other larger problem?

The hydraulics are new, btw. Pre-bled brand new GM hydraulics that are only a few months old.

 

What fluid do you run and how old is it? How long ago were the synchros replaced?

 

Synchros have never been replaced as far as I know. It's out of a 94 TA with a lot of hard miles on it. I dont expect it to last forever.

It has ATF in it. Dexron III I think? It was 6 months ago when I filled it. Cant remember how much I put in it, but I'm pretty sure I put in the amount that was supposed to be in there? I remember checking at the time as Im fairly thorough.

You think maybe I should try putting gear oil in it?

 

Doesn't call for gear oil. Sounds like syncros. Try when it doesn't go in, let out the clutch in neutral, push it back in then engage first. It should help until you need a rebuild.