1982 K3500 - Aurora?

[tarussell]

Wes is meaning what you’re calling “Low” as first gear.

GM started calling the actual 2ND gear “first gear” because the general public couldn’t wrap their heads around generally starting out in second gear.
So they labeled the gear shift knob as such.

But the reality is that the transmission has four forward gears so it’s a “four speed” transmission - and the first gear is known as a “creeper” or “crawler” or “granny” or “mule” or “low” gear that is not usually needed during regular driving conditions.
So the 2ND gear ( 3.58:1 ) is used to start off with when the advantage of a super low gear ( 6.55:1 ) is not needed.
To avoid confusion for those who don’t understand this GM just decided to list 2ND gear with a “1” to avoid any issues or complaints.

 

[shima]

Wes is meaning what you’re calling “Low” as first gear.

Thanks @tarussell !! I was having trouble getting it into 2nd gear (bottom-left). I had to really muscle it to get it to go.

I have only used 1st gear (on my other K30) one time. I used the truck to pull a big plant out of the ground. It was satisfying.

 

[tarussell]

Thanks @tarussell !! I was having trouble getting it into 2nd gear (bottom-left). I had to really muscle it to get it to go.

I have only used 1st gear (on my other K30) one time. I used the truck to pull a big plant out of the ground. It was satisfying.

As mentioned earlier above you might be having pressure plate troubles or it may just need adjusting.
2ND gear is synchronized and it should take a slight bit of effort to fall into gear but nothing like having to force it.
The SM-465 is an absolute purpose built truck type transmission and it will never shift as nice and easy as a passenger car trans will but nowhere near the level of straining to shift - ya’ gotta get this looked into so no unnecessary issues arise.