The 83 Firebird (2.8 T5) I just picked up grinds every gear unless I rev match it just right or let it drop way down in RPM.

I can't imagine ALL the syncros being bad so I'm hoping it's adjustable!

Now I've been away from 80's American cars for a while (off in the import world) so maybe I'm just being too critical, but the clutch feels really... odd. First inch or so doesn't seem to do anything, half pedal might make it slip a little, and I'd say the last couple inches actually move the clutch fork.

I believe the 82-84 was mechanical and not hydraulic, right?

How do you go about properly adjusting this?

And yes, sadly... I'll have to buy a Haynes/Chiltons I guess

 

Not sure when they changed from mech to hyd in the 6-cyl.

Doesn't matter what motor it is though; it should be adjusted to where there's about ½" of free play in the pedal. The play goes away over time.

Grinding in all gears isn't likely to be clutch adjustment. More likely, I'd suggest that somebody JUST DID put a clutch in it, and put the throwout on the fork wrong.



Happens an AMAZING amount of the time.

 

The throwout is definitely noisy in this thing. Really didn't want to drop the tranny yet as I planned on tearing the V6 drivetrain out this spring! haha

 

There should be a specification for a gap between the TO bearing and pressure plate fingers when no pedal pressure is applied. Set that, then worry about pedal.