my shifter feels really loose in the spot from neutral to when you move it to the left to shift into first/second but before you actually put it in gear. is this a common problem? what causes it? how do u fix it/is it worth fixing? thanks in advance.

 

Common problem. Think about your body...when you're eighty...lol...the bones might not fit the joints quite the same, right?

It's most likely the shifter bushings. There's a numbers of urethane bushings in the shifter assembly. One set you can reach from the top...my understanding is that to reach the others you you have to drop the tranny.

The one on top you just lift the shifter out and you'll see them...if they're there. My FC had them completely gone...except the metal catch ring. The other set I'm unsure of...I never got around to replacing them.

 

Most likely the shifter spring (holds the shifter ball in place in the well). Either broken or worn out - I think you have to drop the tranny to replace it but I could be wrong.

 

oh i already dropped the tranny, as you can see from my sig, my car is far from intact, lol. i got bored today so i took out the propeller shaft and tranny

so is it the bushings or the shifter spring?

 

I would bet bushings but beings it's all out the parts aren't expensive, I'd replace them all.