Gears won't engage, TC oil is a metallic grey, what could be my problem?

[Panchoelkatch]

So bought the car thinking there was a clutch problem. Here's my symptoms:
Car will turn on and idle, but gears will grind and won't go in. I was able to start the car in first and drive it, but as soon as I put a little power to the engine, it just won't really advance forward, and it definitely sounds like some metal to metal carnage going on down there.

I drained TransCase oil yesterday and the little bit that came out was a thick metallic looking grey with obvious metal flakes.

The tranny oil came out a little burnt, with gold flakes. Kind of like glitter.

What do you guys think? Mechanic cousin says transfer case? Would the car still move even with a bad T case though? Possible drive shaft gone bad? I'm thinking of picking up a whole tcase/tranny but don't want to spend un necessary money.

Another question, would it hurt the car if I removed the drive shaft to rear differential to check if my tranny is still good?

 

[DSM1G90]

Gold flakes is brass and what the syncros are made of. That and along with metal flakes in the "grey fluid" definitely spells a destroyed tranny.

Rebuild it, or buy a JDM tranny be your best bet.

 

[pauleyman]

You have two separate problems. Tcase is lkkely destroyed and you have clutch issues. If there is that much brass in the fluid you may also have bad synchros. You wont knowuntil you fix the tcase. It may also have a bad viscous if it were driven very far with that tcase.

 

[Panchoelkatch]

Any good sites where i can pick up a set with out being screwed haha

 

[DSM1G90]

Do a google search on "JDM Trannies and motors"

 

[Panchoelkatch]

What else could have gotten damaged? Driveshaft? VC? Trying to figure out what I'm going to have to replace and see if it's worth it or just to part out?

 

[DSM1G90]

Could replace all to make all as one.. Your money and your like for DSM's making it your call on this one. I can't see driveshaft, but can see bad VC's.

 

[mercaholik]

I faced a similar problem when I bought my 92. I ended up ordering a jdm trans and t-case from tiger something, they were pretty good about it. I paid like 750 for them to deliver it to my house in a semi. It ended up being a switch able combo from a gvr-4 in good working order. Still didn't like being shifted into 2nd at high rpm but I guess that is the norm, no grinding but if I were to do it again I would have it built while it's out.

 

[Panchoelkatch]

I've found a couple of cheap built trannies on here that I wouldn't mind picking up