Did some searching and my problem sounds like a bad TOB, but just looking for some reassurance, as the title states.

Classic grinding noise like rocks tumbling/grinding. Quiets down if not goes completely away when I push in the clutch. Also if I get the car really heated up, about 5mins of driving after car its optimal operating temp it quiets down a lot. Am I on the right tack here?

Also I've herd that a bad TOB won't hurt anything, but to be honest it is kind of an embarrassing sound, how easy is it to change, or how expensive would it be to have a transmission shop fix it?

I'm waiting on my check and will be ordering some Amsoil transmission fluid to hopefully quiet this down some in the meantime.

I'd be willing to bet that is your TOB. It is fairly easy to change, but requires you to drop the transmission. The noise is usually not a sign of anything bad, so if you can handle the "embarrassment" of the rattle I would just leave it alone. Not to mention, sometimes a brand new bearing will also make noise. It's luck of the draw.

If you do decide to change it, you need to drop the tranny, pull off the fork, slide off the old TOB, and slide on the new one. Make sure you slide it on and don't just sit it over the fork as this will cause the retaining clips to break. Very common error. I would not go to a shop for this as they will charge you a good bit in labor.

Oh, and changing out the transmission fluid, although never a bad idea, will likely have no effect on the rattle.

Alright thanks very much for the info, makes me feel much better about the sound as for damage to the transmission.

Yup to Ebster's info, but do you happen to have a Spec clutch in there?

thats a negative, my clutch is completely stock. One day I will rectify this, but damn funding...