I searched the forums a bit but this is really specific.

94 Firebird 3.4l V6. Dropped the transmission to change the 1-2 shift fork. Took out everything except reverse slider gear and counter gear to clean inside transmission. Watched the ETCG and Paul Cangialosi video guide for reference.

Reassembled. Noticed dragging in neutral when spun by hand but no hard binding. Shifts fine outside car.

Reinstalled with new Master and Slave, new Throw Out bearing, new Pilot Bushing, re-used clutch and pressure plate since my warranty wasn't in stock and time and money is an object. TO was in stock and PB was a spare I kept.

First gear was sticky and would only go in after 3-5s of constant steady pressure, or a sharp hard jab into gear. Clutch is slipping at high rpm in any gear. Drove about 80 mostly highway miles over 3 days hoping it would "settle in" since nothing was grinding into gear.
Got stuck in stop-and-go traffic. After about 10-15 hard neutral to first shifts, the trans locked in 1st gear.

I chose to limp the 10 miles home(I did the engine overhaul. 180k engine took 30 min @ 3500+ happily.)
Car never stalled, but it was still pulling with the clutch in so had to press the brakes to keep from rolling.

When I turn the car off, all the gates feel normal.
3rd 4th 5th and R work as expected, engine on or off.
The problem:
If the car is running, then 1st and 2nd does nothing.

• The shifter will slide easily into these gates, but does not transmit power to the rear wheels under any circumstance

If the car is started in 1st gear, then 1st gear will transmit power until the gear stick in returned to Neutral then the problems come back. I imagine I can probably slam second to keep moving then get to the "good" 3-4-5 gears. I haven't tried it, or tried driving in reverse either. It'll roll in neutral with the car off and locks up when in any gear. Anyone know what little detail im missing?

 

Input shaft endplay... Didn't check it and had a bunch when I pulled the trans. 3-4 synchro hub keys were probably popping in and out causing the drag. Broke the fork in half

 

Bummer

 

Nice write-up. Its always nice to see someones problem and then the fix.

Getting ready to remove my trans to replace the clutch. This will be the 3rd time. i have owned the car since new. It gets harder to shift from N to 1st and all other shifts when it gets hot (Had same issue before i removed it the 1st time). I have never resealed it, and it has never leaked. This time i will reseal...with new throw-out bearing, clutch, pilot and whatever else i find wrong with it. I am also not in a rush, its not my daily driver anymore. After this i will get it repainted.

its a 94 3.4. Sticker price was 14,400 in 94. Got my monies worth.