Clutch doesn't slip, but it is extremely difficult to get into gear with the engine running. Engine turned off, no problem selecting gears. The clutch cable can't be adjusted any further and I can tell by the engagement point that this clutch is well worn....but is the diffculty shifting caused by the clutch or is there something wrong with the transmission (M46?).

I am hoping it's just that the clutch is not disengaging completely.

Check the trans oil 1st.

Start it in neutral clutch down. Easier to get into gear?

Do it again. Pull into 2nd and then push up to 1st. Easier?

Several of my older 240s and other makes had versions of this. To me it's a characteristic of some. One of my Chevy 4x4s did this from new - I always had to go to 2nd before going up to 1st.

If none of the above works consistently for you, change the cable - it may help.
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240 drivers & parts cars - Ohio

I'll take a spit fire wall where the cable comes into the cabin for a thousand please.

Look really close inside and out. Happened to two of mine with m46 trans. Get a Gemo cable if you don't already have one. Second to fix the fire wall quickly go to Home depot and get a metal plate used by framers to bolt the walls to the foundation. They have an oval shaped hole that will need some slight filing to make it fit better. Put it on the engine side of the firewall and maybe even use a little silicone to put in place so the cable is shooting straight to the pedal assembly. It will take the pressure off the firewall that most likely has split and is moving the cable end closer to the pedal.

It's a problem with almost any manual trans. What may be happening is that some corrosion or crud has built up on the trans input shaft. When the clutch pressure plate retracts the friction disc cannot float along the splines and move away from the flywheel, so there is some residual drag, and that causes the synchro rings to block the shift into gear when the car is stationary. Unfortunately cleaning the splines means removing the trans.
In some cases it can be a failure of the diaphragm spring in the pressure plate assembly - the plate lifts from the disc at an angle, and applies a small dragging force on the disc even when the pedal/lever have moved a proper amount. That's less common than the sticky friction disc, but it is also evidence of a well worn clutch assembly.
In either case the trans shifts well with the engine off.

My guess is the clutch, if there is oil in the transmission. No oil means the syncros won't work. If you are out of adjustment, either the cable is stretched or the disk is worn out. Of course the arm that carries the throwout bearing can wear through at the pivot. It makes that transmission hard to shift too.

Greg

The only adjustment of the clutch is in the cable. You only need to make sure there is a couple of mm slack or play in the cable.

Make sure the reverse detent plate is adjusted correctly, if it is too close shifting into first gear will be difficult.
Dan