You always select the right gear for the speed and the power required. You do not need to go to "other gears" before going to the one you want. This is a left over from old days before every gear had synchronizers. For your first question, I'd remain...
That would look great. They're using all sorts of "non-traditional" lighting in bedrooms & bathrooms these days.
trans has to come out. sounds like a broken output shaft between the 3rd and 4th gear synchro. 4th gear is the very last gear on the output shaft before it goes out to the driveshaft. 3rd gear is right in front of it. can't be the countershaft becaus...