When I start my car in the morning and put it in reverse it grinds. Does anyone know why and how to fix it? Also at a stoplight or anytime i have to put it in 1st, it feels like there's a solid wall and its really hard to get it in there. 2nd isnt as bad but it's still kind of hard. 3rd 4th and 5th are smooth though. Do I need to replace the tranny or could it be the linkage?

Those are indications of a worn out clutch. I think the transmission is fine. I replaced the clutch (it had 90K on it) when that happened to my car and that took care of it, although adjusting the hydraulics may have been as important.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 01-25-2012).]

Hard engaging into gear, 1st and Reverse, are symptoms of a clutch that has not fully disengaged. There are hundreds of threads here on PFF about this problem.

Many have repaired these by replacing , clutch pedal, clutch master and clutch slave. There are better ones for sale threw Rodney Dickman now. They are superior to the ones GM used in 1988.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 01-25-2012).]

Before you replace any hydraulic system parts, you should measure how much your slave cylinder pushrod moves when you push on the pedal. If it moves 1-1/8" then the problem isn't with the hydraulics, it's with the clutch itself which is probably worn out as Gall757 said. If it doesn't move 1 -1/8" then you've got air in your hydraulic system that needs to be bled out. If you try to bleed it and it doesn't work, then it's one of the problems that Josef mentioned.

When what you're describing happened to me, it was the select cable.

-fh

Bleed the clutch fluid. Do it at the slave cylinder. It will only cost you buying some brake fluid.

just search "bleed clutch" in the search function

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 01-26-2012).]

Assuming the clutch fluid is at the proper level, try pumping the clutch pedal. If that allows you to shift easier you have air in your hydraulic system.