I have to force it into 1st and 2nd gear and the other gears grind when I shift even though I have the clutch all the way in. Today couldn't start the car while it was in gear......it acted like I didn't have the clutch in. What should I check?

what do u mean scratching that is a new word for me ,if you mean grinding sounds like the clutch is going bad if it it a stk ,and it is not depressing all the way ck your brake fluid in your clutch resivoir

if clutch is good, it could be that slave cylinder needs to be bled so that it has more pressure behind it when pedal is pressed, or could be syncros are wearing out, making it harder to get into gear.

change your clutch fluid

the gear grinding noise is because the clutch plate is not fully disengaging and the input shaft is still driving. If you did not use the same length of push rod then the slave cylinder is not moving enough to disengage the clutch. Check it out that with the pedal on the floor the piston in the slave cylinder should be almost to the edge of the slave cylinder . That is where It should be to be working properly

the synchros are not DIY, when they start to go it will grind when the RPMs are higher like getting on a highway, you can try double clutching and see if that helps.

possible selector linkage adjustment , loose or shifted

The problem sounds like the clutch. If you put it in 1st., then start it up, does it try to move with you foot on the clutch? Does the clutch pedal feel different than normal.

Either your clutch is getting bad, or you're shifting down too soon, and up too late. Try double clutching. Push in your clutch and push it into neutral. Release the clutch, fan the gas pedal, push the clutch again and shift into 1st. All this does is sychronize the speed of the transmission with the speed of the engine. There were, in the 60's, a lot of cars with the old "three on the tree" that you had to do this every time, and you get pretty good at it after a while.

Either your clutch plate is worn out or the hydraulic clutch has a problem, do you have any free play in the pedal?

STOP Downshifting!
STOP Forcing gear change, watch the Engine RPMs and shift accordingly, HOMBRE's are as good as the operator's. Hombre's have dash shift indicators which illuminate when it's time to 'shift' and not before, This has nothing to do with gear oil either. If you've drained it, you best fill it immediately and make sure it's ample level. The heat these gears sustain in is inceredible, cooling lubricant is essential. Here's a tip, while engine is OFF, ignition key is engaged, dash is illuminated, depress clutch peddle, keep it depressed and walk through all gears with gear shift, shifting should be smooth and unpeded, including reverse. If resistance is experienced at one or more gears, gear alignment is off as a result of inproper gear shifting while driving. Continue to drive vehicle just shift slower until clutch needs replacement then do an entire drive shaft upgrade. It worth it, it's great truck.