92 lx 5.0 5spd grinds in 1st gear?

[My98SVTsnake]

My son hydroplained (hum) and lost control no real damage to the car but
now when the clutch is pushed in 1st grinds BAD and same story in 3rd.

2nd & 4th & reverse no problem.

Motor mounts are shot problem one but I can't see it causing this issue.

I think it's the clutch cable either damaged or stretched.

Given I'm not real sure what happened you know there's much more to the story
than I'm told.

Idea's other than grounding him till the end of time.

Oh he is paying for the repairs but I want to insure we go the right direction on
repairs.

The facts I do know car left the road and was pulled out by a big 4X4.

Oh it's a 92 lx 5.0 5spd bone stock except for flows.

I jacked it up and put it on stands and saw nothing that jumped out at me
other than a ripped 02 sensor.

[Lyle]

I can think of several things that might cause it. He might have knocked the shift stops for 1st & 3rd lose during the off road adventure causing the tranny to not engage enough or too much. You said that the motor mounts were shot. Another possibility is that the torque from the motor is causing the 1st & 3rd shifter rod to bind and it's now showing up. The worst case I can think of is that the 1st & 3rd synchros went south on you or the case got tweeked.

[CobraCrazy]

If there is an aftermarket shifter with stops, you might check it. The screw may have tightened or backed out.