Hey guys, just looking to pick some brains as to what I should expect upon doing an autopsy in the next few days.

Long story short, took my "new" 1974 454 4 speed Corvette out the other night, and after giving her a few healthy full throttle runs during the evening, I made one last trip through the gears that was more eventful than I would have cared for.

1-2-3 shifts at full throttle were clean. When I reached for 4th gear, I felt that the shifter didnt go back as far as it should have, so I didnt let the clutch out right away.

I kept my foot on the clutch and tried for 4th again...wouldnt go all the way back.
I put the car in neutral. Stepped on the clutch, and reached for 3rd...wouldnt go in.

Slowed down a bit more and tried for 2nd. Nope. Clutch pedal feel is now noticeably different....still ridiculously heavy like before, but doesnt feel quite the same at the end of the travel.

Slow down to about 10 mph, and am able to get the car into 1st...WHEW! Ok now were in business!

WRONG!

Went to throw the car into 2nd and stepped on the clutch...got a big grinding/clattering noise as soon as I stepped on the clutch, and no drop in engine RPM.

Had to drive the car the rest of the way in 1st gear.

With the vehicle off, I can put the shifter into any gear.
Step on the clutch, car in gear, turn ignition, car will go to start and will move.

Obviously some sort of engagement type issue, but what should I expect when I take this thing apart?
Thanks for your input

Welcome to my world. I've had my trans/bell/clutch out 5 times in the last three days.
It sorta sounds like the T/O bearing is toast. When you got it back into 1st and tried for second, that noise was probably whats left of the T/O bearing grinding into your pressure plate? Did the "grinding/clattering" stop when you released the clutch?

Yep...I took my foot off the pedal, and to any casual observer on the highway, I was just out cruisin at 20 carefree miles per hour

I agree with Larry, sounds like your T/O bearing is toast. Jb

Well I know it's not consolation, but you could of still shifted gears without the clutch. I do it quite often in the Chevelle. Some times I just get lazy so I raise off the throttle and go reaching for the next gear.

Well I know it's not consolation, but you could of still shifted gears without the clutch. I do it quite often in the Chevelle. Some times I just get lazy so I raise off the throttle and go reaching for the next gear.

I know that it can be done by cool guys, but Im not cool enough to pull it off....aside from that fact, I had just registered the car the day I made this mess, so I wasnt all that familiar with what the car would and/or would not like. Well I guess I found out what it wouldnt like.

Nah, the cool guys can power shift at wide open throttle. :)

Shifting without the clutch is pretty easy. You lift off the throttle enough to get the load off the trans and then proceed to shift. It takes practice to shift like if you were using the clutch. When I first started doing it it wasn't very smoothe. I wouldn't grind the gears, but I'd not lift off the throttle enough for it to go into the next gear. It would resist a little bit so I would let off the throttle just a hair more then it would go into gear.

BBDave,

Sounds like throw-out bearing, clutch release lever or a broken release arm on the pressure plate. An autopsy is in order, have fun!

Check the condition of your fork ball stud too while you're at it. Migt as well check the arms on your z-bar for cracks as well.

Autopsy complete:

Throwout Bearing: Good
Pressure plate: One bent finger
Clutch plate: One busted spring and retaining area
Z-Bar: Something too loose/broken at pivot point of frame mount
Trans: M21: bit much end play at input shaft and a little noisy when turned

Shifter assembly and non removable crossmember: aggravating

Prognosis: Friday was an expensive day