Hey Jim...Yeah I always shift around 2800-3000...The tranny really only makes that ratchety noise if I'm shifting from 3rd to 4th...if I go into 4th under 40mph it does it. Even if I have it in 4th and start to coast in gear (say dowhhill) around that 40MPH mark it does it as well.

At 3000 RPM in 3rd gear I'm going 40-41 MPH exactly so that's when I always shift.

I just wish I knew what was making that noise!!! I don't know much about transmissions. I can change out a clutch for example but as far as the mechanics of the manual tranny to the extent of diagnosing this "problem" I'm lost.