RIP - 4th Gear

[unplugged]

Went for a spirited drive yesterday and halfway through it no longer holds 4th gear.
If I try to hold it in gear it grinds.
my assumption is that means that it will have to be torn down or replaced.
Some vendors are selling new transmissions in addition to rebuilt ones.
They are quite a bit more expensive but I would consider it if they were really stronger/better.
Any opinions?
Thanks

[daved]

My Fiat Spider (1969) started doing the same thing quite a few years ago. I've never actually done anything about it as all the other gears work fine & there is no sign of any other problems. Don't think there is any way to diagnose the problem till the transmission is removed from the car.

[ga.spyder]

Usually that is a bent or worn shift fork.This is often a result of people who drive while resting their right hand on the shifter.I drove mine w/o 4th gear for a couple years before saving enough to repair it.I got really good at 3rd to 5th shifting!

[SLOSpider]

Welcome to the club. I got a couple of spares that Im waiting till I feel like changing the engine at the same time.

[davery]

Welcome to the club. I got a couple of spares that Im waiting till I feel like changing the engine at the same time.

So it seems my 1st to 2nd to 3rd to 5th pattern is pretty common.

[SLOSpider]

4th is so overated, at least the is what my lazy side tells me

[ga.spyder]

If I hadn't run into Beeks ex partner at a car show I might still be w/o 4th gear.He offered to fix it,rather than do a complete rebuild.The rebuilt tranny I was going to buy ended up in Ron Luxmores car.Win-win for all!!