trans issues, help, fwd no 1st Options

[smrtkd69]

ok, long story short, i did the clutch on my fwd, at same time i did slave cyl. i decided to swap in my mystery trans i had sitting at the shop. come to find out to no avail the bastard will not shift into 1st gear, at all, no matter what i do to linkages, so i drove ne ways because other gears felt useable. and they are, they're all perfect, that is except for first. one step (lol 4 steps forward two steps back from my old trans) when i push in clutch and move into 1st it feels fine. then i go to release clutch and it will shoot it back out. if i try to hold it in gear it just grinds like mad (whoops should've known better) . what is someones educated opinion. my other trans was pretty bad, but at least i had a 1st gear. i dont have $ for a rebuild or else i would have done it already. ne body wanna trade me two half good trans (that can probably be combined into a one good one) plus cash for one good turbo fwd trans. i dunno, or does ne one just have one for sale that drives well, or parts car with one intact, im willing to go ne route, just something affordable. o and btw, i have all sorts of stock and some aftermarket parts if someone would trade. just ask. i dunno im rambling because im very upset because i start a new job on monday and i thought i was doing myself good.

[smrtkd69]

UPDATE!!!! YESSSSS!!!! it was the linkage. it was actually the (1-2) , (3-4), (5-R) arm on the trans. it was about 3/4 inch too long. so i "customized it" (drilled a hole and used a bolt and nuts and washer to attach) the thing shifts like a dream. i am ecstatic. o an btw ne body thinking about washer pivot ball and ext. slave cylinder rod for the cheap (free if you make your own rod) price it is sooo worth it.