[blykins]

Just tell them to replace the 3rd gear cog, Earl....I don't think this would be a professional modification. If they have "professionally" ground the engagement teeth off the gear itself, then there is no way the synchronizer hub teeth can engage the gear and therefore transfer the power to the mainshaft. If all the teeth are missing, it would be like sticking the tranny in 3rd gear, letting the clutch out, and it would perform like it was in neutral. The only locking force between the gear and the synchro would be the friction between the blocking ring and the gear itself...and I wouldn't think that would be much.

In my opinion, which isn't worth much these days, this was not a modification, but all the gear teeth are stripped off from some joyous shifting into 3rd gear.

If you have the tranny, you can reaffirm what I'm suggesting. Put it in 3rd gear with a shifter and you'll probably have to hold it.....and then twist the input shaft....the output will most likely not turn....or just barely turn.

If the rest of the tranny looks fine, then just have them change the gear out. No worries. :-)