5Sp Clutch/Trans Problem - On the road need help!

Hey all,

Just checked into a hotel part way into a 2000 mile round trip and have run into an issue with my Taco... I am searching for advice through the forum but am in a tight time bind to decide if I can continue or need to turn back for home... apologies if this topic has been covered elsewhere in the forum but I need some help.

Truck is a 96 2.7 4WD with a 5SP and a ton of miles. Pre-existing condition is a very slow rear main seal leak (I believe) that has oiled the clutch up a bit and caused it to squeal a bit when engaging. A marlin crawler is on the list of things to put into the truck but I haven't done it yet. Clutch does not slip when engaged, and up until now, I have had no problems with the transmission/clutch as a whole. Running MT90 in the transmission with about 5k miles on the fluid since last changed.

Did a 150 mile leg with the truck empty, about 75mph, and when I pulled out of a gas station I found it hard to get into 1st, like the synchro had gone out. All gears are acting like this as far as I can tell and I have to rev-match to shift, even on the freeway. Truck tries to crawl forward in 1st with the clutch pedal to the floor.

I feel like this could be one of five things... throwout bearing, clutch fingers bent, synchros/tranny has crapped the bed, clutch master/slave or air in the lines, or a transmission fluid issue (torched, leaked out, etc). The thing that is making me ask about this is that I haven't been working the clutch at all during this trip, just straight freeway driving, so I don't know how any of those issues could have just popped up over the course of 150 5th gear miles.

I'm working out of a hotel parking garage to troubleshoot/fix this and only have the basics as far as tools. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

BUMP!! Good luck man! Someone help this guy out.