I recently had an episode where I was going through gears pretty fast and instead of going into 4th, I went into 2nd and my foot slipped off the clutch as I was trying to recover. This resulted in an 8k rev and a single loud pop.

Now I have a whine that happens on on level surfaces and only when not accelerating or decelerating, but just holding speed. If I speed up or decelerate, the noise goes away. If I push the clutch in, the noise goes away. My first thought is transmission. Any ideas?

 

Does the sound come back when you rev the engine up and hold it at a steady RPM (say 1800 to 2500 or so) with the clutch in and the tranny in neutral?

I would tend to suspect damage to an engine component - an accessory bearing or the chain tensioner jump to mind... You may need help to find the source of this one.

Sorry to hear about the mistake - they can be costly.
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Engine on its own does not make the noise, I have to be moving with the clutch engaged and just holding speed. Sitting in the driveway and running through the RPM range does not make the noise. Driving while the noise is happening and then putting the car in neutral and revving does not reproduce the noise either. I really appreciate the input. I wish I could recreate the noise somewhere other than on the road. I love the good ole mecahnics stethescope trick.

 

Hmmm...
Disconnect the engine from the tranny, noise stops. Load the tranny/engine and the noise stops. Engine alone makes no noise. You mentioned slipping off the clutch; it's going to cost to troubleshoot this one - I suspect the clutch or throw-out bearing.
Unless the noise is LOUD, unbearable, or you have a long desolate highway to travel, monitor the noise for progression. If it gets worse, bring it in for inspection.
Worst case, the tranny "might" seize up, or you lose the ability to use the clutch - it'd have to be BAD to fail that catastophically without any sort of warning. Best case, it's another noise to monitor until the clutch or offending part is replaced.

Good luck!
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You went all the way up to 8k rpm on the money shift. You are lucky that the engine is still running. Have you been able to completely ruled out the engine as causing the noise?

 

Everyone I talk to is saying clutch and I noticed today that I got a faint stinking clutch smell.

 

I haven't been able to rule out anything yet, but the engine is running strong and sounds normal except when the whining is happening...of course can't tell what's doing that yet.