So the spring has to be removed, the shifter ball placed, and the spring attached above? I was hoping that I might be able to spread the spring with some dental picks and whatnot, snake the shifter through the middle, let everything go and close it up. I'll just have to give it a shot once I get a 3rd and 4th hand around the shop.

 

if you need pix, lmk.

 

Spring lays to the right side of the shifter when the shifter is installed.

 

spring grabs on to that part where the shifter sit to be exact.

 

so i should take the tranny out if i want to do it easily?

 

Yes.

 

I tried to remove the spring from a spare trans to see if I could replace my broken one w/o removing the trans (as it was stated earlier in this thread that it can be done). In the process, I seemed to have disconnected the shift rod from the "knuckle". I didn't remove the shifter housing, actually couldn't get it off the 2 alignment pins(I was afraid of bending, or breaking something).
Is there a way to get it realigned w/o opening the trans?

If the shift rod and/or the block that needs to come off to remove the spring, were a tiny bit shorter, it would be easy to replace w/o removing the trans. I think some modifications (grinding, trans, removed) could be done to make this possible.

 

I was hunting for what the spring under the shifter was for and how it is supposed to be positioned. I found this post and all the pictures are gone.

I think I figured it out. The part of the spring with the long hook to the left wraps around the right side of the shifting mechanism. Then you move the other side of the spring to the side and slide the ball on the shift lever into the hole and the spring holds it in place.

 

Wow, thanks for the pics.

I think this sets the record for the most times a thread has been brought back! Started in 2002, brought back in 2007, again in 2010, and now in 2012!

And with the pictures, it's actually useful enough to head to the archives! This thread has had quite the lively existence, for sure!

Jon