Those transmissions do wear out and the gears get sloppy on the shafts. I have one on a 350 (similar to the 400) that is so worn it won't go into first or neutral. The real culprit for you is probably a worn clutch basket. It causes inconsistent clutch engagement, rough clutch h engagement, false neutrals and clunky shifts. It can be fixed by removing the clutch basket and filing the fingers smooth.