Firstfruits Farm

Here is how some have fixed the sloppiness: http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/shifterbushing/index.html There was another fix that I used on my '78; using a standard brass plumbing fitting (I forgot the diam.), chucking it in a drill and filing off the threads and taper. It replaces the worn out nylon bushing well. Shifting is now tight and smooth. The brass has natural lubricity against the steel shifter ball.

Welcome, Patcon. I'm in northern Greenville county.

If your clutch has not been fully disengaging as the cause of hard shifting in all gears, the synchros will be worn and thinned out. One stop-gap strategy is to use lighter transmission oil. That worked in my 1986 D21 Hardbody 5-sp. It takes special presses and pullers to rebuild your transmission. My 78 Z 5-sp has a slight clash in 2nd only when it is cold. Once warmed up, it is smooth and solid. Usually the 2nd gear synchro is the first to go. Did you mean that your mechanic noticed a chatter, but you have not? If he really pushed it hard and you normally don't, he could be right that the leak has really gunked up the clutch, and it is not releasing, causing hard shifting in all gears.

Odd--I've just started noticing the exact same behavior in my clutch pedal.