Bought a used T56 years ago, finally got around to fixing the missing 4th gear issue, and after wrestling with 5th gear not coming off the main shaft I took it to a shop.
They found this piece damaged, they can't figure out the name of it in order to order a new one.
Any clues?

 

Front offset lever $26.70 at thegearbox.org part # 2386-098-025
looks like the tab for the skip shift had been cut off

 

Thanks, I was just coming to that conclusion myself of what the part name was.
This was a 94 LT1 style trans originally, and the skip-shift lever was a separate part from the offset lever in the early ones apparently. Supposedly in 93 they didn't have CAGS. So, I'll order one and tell the shop it won't look exactly the same and the separate half won't end up being put back in the trans.

I seriously doubt the little detent ball rounding off those edges will prevent me getting in to 4th, but I'll replace it anyways... Might end up feeling a bit crisper at the stick.

I have bronze fork pads going in for 1-2 and 3-4, full new 3-4 syncro, all new blocker rings for everything, the tougher syncro keys and a steel fork going in, so honestly it should all work.
They said they found no damage, but I bet that original fork was somewhat bent up.

Was doing the rebuild myself but I was going to break 5th gear trying to pull it off and decided to let the shop do it.

 

Just a follow up, called the shop with the info, they agree it wouldn't cause my issue, but there was no indication is to why I couldn't get in to 4th. The builder was curious to see if there was a diff between the old LT1 input shaft and the LS1 style so I took it to the shop. He had the front half of the trans assembled, and when it was put in to 4th gear, the out put shaft was locked in with the input, and at least by hand I couldn't make it skip like I could before. So, hopefully we have it fixed and it was just an accumulation of worn out pieces causing the issue.

Also, when he disassembled it, he pulled the front plate off and and pulled everything forward then pressed 5th gear off the shaft instead of pulling it with a puller like I'd seen in every how-to.