Based on what I can hear, I'm gonna say release bearing. It's kind of hard to say with certainty though, without being there in person.

 

Man I sure hope it's something easy

 

Yeah if I am thinking right the release bearing is known also as the throwout bearing correct? Well I am thinking it is between the motor and trans with the clutch right camaro 69? That I believe would be the easiest thing in there if not mistaken. I like to just yank my motor and trans but your later model is a whole lot funner and don't know much about it. Hope this helps. As far as shifter movement with the flex of the vehicle check if it has a trans brace I am not sure but my 90 TA had all that and the shifter did not move it had maxed out chassis and suspension factory options with manual and TPI. check to see if your whole trans is moving(its not really the trans its the car moving). I would have some one drive in figure 8 in empty parking lot and visually inspect yourself. maybe trans is in need of rings and sychros rebuild but I wouldn't think that at this point from the grinding on this video but would rebuild it for good measure while its out. those strut / rear coilspring combo f bodies have an enormous amount of flex, getting subframed and or extra bracing those cars really enjoy although handling may need retuned if modded. Also don't know much about HYDRAULIC clutch pedal if that is what you got, maybe fluid is low or leaking and or bearing busted. I think some have lines to the bearing.

 

It sound to me like a misalignment of something not really a grinding noise. If I had to guess I would think either the front bearing or the forward counter gear bearing.

The noise does not sound like a release bearing to me, also torque would have no effect on the release bearing. The reason I am guessing those two parts is because that is where the torque is the highest in first gear, right at that area. The two bearings are very close to each other and when you are in first gear those two bearing a trying to pull each other a part.

The problem with videos is that lack feel. For me I could tell by feel better then by sound. There are other areas in the transmission that can make sounds like that but that is the only ones I can think of that would be first gear only.

If you could find a trans tech,, a good one,,, he could confirm the issue with a quick test drive. The plus side is since it not really grinding (as I would define it) the issue is fixable. Some shop allow for "carry ins". I could see a quick repair plus inspection for a few hundred dollars. if you push this car and it really grinds, well I already posted about that.

 

I'm thinking it might be the pilot bearing also from what I've been reading.

 

Most of the time when I pilot bearing fails the front bearing on the input shaft takes some damage. The pilot bearing may take out the noise for now but the damage to the front bearing is already done. 2 or 3 months down the road you could have a major transmission failure.

Also if it was just the pilot bearing why would only be first gear? The pilot bearing would only be effected by engine torque. Your engine torque does not change when you shift gears. I would expect if it was only the pilot bearing the noise would be based on how hard you pushed on the throttle not what geat you are in.

Like I said take to someone that knows transmissions even if you spend $30 for a test drive it will be worth it. No amount of research it going to be better then a guy who has fixed 100's of gear boxs feeling what is going on.

 

it does it in second on take off as well. does that make a difference