advice on 5 speed please

[neil90s13]

Hey all! Long time no logon. Enough of the small talk--

I've got a 90 model w/ 5 speed-I know the transmission is dying (Grinding sound at idle when clutch is not engaged, HARD cold shifting, grinding, loud frictiony sounds in 1st 2nd and 3rd while car is in motion even with clutch pedal pushed in):( So, my question is in two parts:1)Itowed the car on a car dolly with the front wheels on the dolly and the rear of course on the ground - transmission in neutral. Could towing the car like that have damaged the transmission (because I didnt pull the driveshaft)2)has anyone ever replaced just the gearbox (minus the bell housing and clutch) on their car? If so, how hard was it to do?

I just had a centerforce clutch and new t/o bearing put in the car about 10,000 miles ago, so I'm confident that's all good.

ANY replies would be ever so graciously accepted!

[johnsharpe]

I've got a 90 model w/ 5 speed-I know the transmission is dying (Grinding sound at idle when clutch is not engaged, HARD cold shifting, grinding, loud frictiony sounds in 1st 2nd and 3rd while car is in motion even with clutch pedal pushed in)

Sounds like a toasted set of syncros and/or gears, possibly shafts as well. If it's just 1st - 3rd, then it could be the input shaft that's toasted...either way, sounds like it's time for a rebuild.

1)Itowed the car on a car dolly with the front wheels on the dolly and the rear of course on the ground - transmission in neutral. Could towing the car like that have damaged the transmission (because I didnt pull the driveshaft)

Could be...It has always been recommended to me that the drive wheels are off the ground in a towing situation, unless it's a really short distance at slower speeds. Other than that, pull the drive shaft or raise the drive wheels.

2)has anyone ever replaced just the gearbox (minus the bell housing and clutch) on their car? If so, how hard was it to do?

Not me, but I would imagine that it's no harder than changing the clutch itself, except for swaping the bellhousing. I would think that most used trannies come with the b/h anyways....no?

John