some questions
 

would a synchronizer that's going out only affect the shift from 1st to 2nd?

what would make a squealing sound (like a drive belt squeal) from the rear endish of the car if i have my foot off the clutch, and i am just going down the road, the squealing sound only appearing if i let off the gas? dissapears when i apply some throttle. same thing if i have no throttle applied, and i let out the clutch. squeals then too.

i have talked to my master mechanic (read: dad) about it. i just wanted other opinions.

It goes away when you apply throttle?? Very strange. I was thinking along the line of maybe a bearing problem in the rear end, but that would be a 24/7 type of whine....

I had this same squealing problem before. It ended up being that I had to have my rear suspension remounted because it was moving. Nothing big just had to be put back in place. It is a real simple job and you can find how to do it by just searching google.

If the 2nd gear synchro went bad, then yes, it would affect the shift.