I am new to driving manual, my 94 xj is my first manual car. I am having a hard time knowing whether I'm just bad at manual or if there are actual problems with my jeep.

If I had to describe the problem in a word or two, it would be jerky or lurching.

Basically, I'm driving in first, foot on the clutch > 2nd > foot off the clutch > gas. It will lurch back in forth a few times, as if it's wanting to stall and die, even if I'm giving what I feel is adequate gas. It will also sometimes do this when not switching gears if I'm just driving slowly in 2nd or 3rd. It will start to stall out, I could be going like 15 or so and it will randomly stop gassing and start to stall, then continue driving like nothing happened.

I just did a radiator flush, thermostat and new water pump and I feel like this problem didn't start til after I did the flush, but I've only had this jeep for a couple of weeks and can't be sure.

Edit: Also, I tried the 4x4 out for the first time today. It works fine, but when switching gears it sounds bad. Like it's grinding and slamming. Doesn't sound pretty.

 

^
Shifting too soon.
As well when learning a drive a manual, practice starting from a complete stop on a steep hill without innocent bystanders behind you.