02 6 speed build up / upgrades

Ok as usual, just when I get the car looking good, the trans take a crap on me. I knew the trans had some issues from the start, popped out of 3rd gear at low rpms (when unloaded), 5th gear grinds going in if you don't hit the sweet spot, but I hoped to limp it by until this winter. By the way I have an 02 ram air conv with the t56 6 speed.

After about an hour of driving (nothing unusual) I downshifted 4th (since 5th grinds) to pass a car, pass the car and it will not come out of 4th. Felt like it would go into neutral, but the shifter would not move side to side, or into 3rd. Found a nice spot to stop, fiddled with it for a few mins and it came out. So I just skipped 4th until I got where I was going (no other problems). On the way home I got to thinking ... what if it stuck in gear because the trans was hot ... so I tried it again .... since it was now cold ... well as luck would have it ... it stuck in 4th again. As I slowed down for a stop light it came out, started missing 4th and got it home safe & sound. Its been parked since then.

So as you can see I need to build up a trans, working on getting a used one I can just drop in (sounds like I can get it for $300). But I've been thinking while this one is out I should go thru it, replace any worn parts, put in new bearings, and upgrade anything I can to keep this from happening again, so here's what im thinking of doing ...

* 3-4 cast iron shift fork
* premium rebuild kit

The kit includes:
1st and 2nd three piece synchronizer rings
3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th carbon kevlar synchronizer rings
front and rear seals
input roller bearings
Premium Timken Bearings included-
all main shaft gear bearings
all main shaft bearings
all countershaft bearings
shift fork pads
snap rings
spacers
thrust washers
front bearing preload shims
countershaft preload shims
synchronizer keys/struts
retaining springs
shifter bushing

* bronze shift pads (good thing or not, jury still out)

I'm also thinking about having my flywheel resurfaced.

what do you think of the upgrades I've talked about? Anything else I should upgrade while im in there? What clutch is the best for street use? Anyone upgrade the flywheel? (what brand, good or bad) As always money is an issue but I want to make it strong enough for some upgrades in the future (no power adders), since its stock now and having issues.

So im guessing since no one has replied I have all of the upgrades covered?

Think im going to go with the bronze shift pads ....

ive never had to fix a stick shift tranny before.. how the heck did everything go so wrong? is their gear oil in your tranny? maybe thats why its all dying..

Bought the car after it was vandalized, trans had some issues, 3rd & 5th syncro's. I think 3rd gear syncro finally took a crap on me and is making it lock into 4th gear. The damage was already done before I got the car, I just was trying to prolong fixing it until this winter, but its getting worse, so im going to fix it now. This is the first transmission i've ever had problems with auto or manual, but when you buy something used you never know what your going to find inside! I'm actually pretty nice to vehicles, but I also know when something breaks you need to fix it, and if you have the chance upgrade it to make it stronger you need to do that!

Especially when you read about alot of people having problems with them, there's a reason why this thread was started
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1877
or this one
http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90324

But I couldn't find any on this site, and since I use this site alot I thought someone on here had to know what was the best of the best & could help guide me in the right direction. After all we all know AF is the best site ...

ive never had to fix a stick shift tranny before.. how the heck did everything go so wrong? is their gear oil in your tranny? maybe thats why its all dying..

i've heard of a LOT of problems with the M6 trannys. If they're driven too rough too often they don't seem to hold up. when I was shoppin for my ta i test drove a few m6's that i found out had stripped gears (of course they never told me until I got there..). that's why I went with one that was bone stock, and an A4. "[D]" pride :smokin:

haha i see.. my M6 is holding up my abuse pretty well..so far. @_@ i need a new clutch and i think 2nd snychro is dying..but its all good otherwise..

it also has problems going into R.. i gotta hold it there to start her up.