So I just did a manual transmission swap into my car. I was able to finally start the car and everything sounded great. I tried to put the car in first gear and it would not go in. I tried putting it into every other gear as well as reverse and it would work. I turned the car off, put it into first gear and then started the car. There was a loud grinding sound, a lot worse than the sound it would make when you miss shift. Any ideas?

 

Was the car always a mt? Offhand guess is the clutch if you barely got a new tranny..

 

No, the car was an automatic. We swapped it to a manual transmission. The clutch is also brand new.

 

Sounds like the linkage may be hooked up wrong. Not sure how it's done on that car specifically. Did you verify that the transmission you bought is good?

 

I cant remember the name of the part for the life of me, but if you look under the hood at the transmission there should be a little accordion-boot looking thing. It should contract whenever you press the clutch.
My friend had the same problem and it was because that part had popped out of its bracket.