Okay so I'm trying to pull the engine out of my 1983 Rx7 GS. I have the 5-speed manual. So far I've taken apart the entire center console section so all I have left is the shifter and the bezel/boot. I have taken the 5 bolts out of the shifter bezel, but I still cannot get it or the boot to come up.

I am either missing something in the process or it is glued by a previous owner or something, because I thought after I got the bolts out the boot and bezel should come up together? I don't want to just go pry it all up if that's not the correct solution because I want to reuse my intact shifter boot and bezel if possible. I have attached photos of where I am at in the process as a visual.

Am I missing something?

 

Dude, you REALLY need to get the Haynes Manual or Factory Service Manual for the 1st Gen - it covers all of these questions and would save you a ton of time posting here and waiting for replies...

Your pics show that your top and inner boots are in good shape, so protect them. DO NOT CUT them, in other words. If you gently pry up on the edge of the round boot, it will come off of the oblong shaped boot near the top. This exposes the top of the shifter where it attaches to the transmission. Once you get those boots removed, youll see what I mean. Remove the 3 or 4 10mm bolts, and the shift tower will lift off easily. Be sure to watch for the shifter bushings underneath and try not to break the plastic ones. Go slowly, and take your time.

With the shifter removed, you can drop the trans and/or pull the engine with the trans attached. Good luck,

 

The FSM's I can find go for 100+$ for an '83... I'm a bit strapped for cash being quarantined and all. foxed.ca has no '83 FSM and I know that with the 3 series of 1st gen's the correct manual is crucial.

Anyway, I removed the upper boot and the 3 bolts underneath. The lower boot will not move regardless of how much I pull on it and neither will the shifter itself. Are the lower boot, the shifter plate (shown in original post) and the rubber piece I'm pointing to in the second photo here supposed to be able to be moved? It seems like they are stuck to the shift tunnel as if they, perhaps, melted and adhered to the tunnel?


This photo just shows me pulling back the rubber to reveal the bolts, which have now been removed:



This photo is me pointing to the rubber that appears unable to be moved at all, adhered to the trans tunnel:

 

The boot stays there...don't tear it! Use some silicone spray or some vaseline and use a drift or a screwdriver and work the top of boot down below level of area where 3 bolts go into shifter turret. Push it down with your fingers and you can then pull straight up on shifter stem and remove it from trans. The boots were much more supple when they were new,age/heat harden them but some patience/persistence and you will have some success.

If real cold where you are,a heat gun/hair dryer applied to boots softens them up to be of some assistance to getting shifter out/in.

 

I appreciate the response. I will give it a shot. Overall, I'd have to say that the boots are in very good shape all things considered. It seems I should be able to pull out the shifter now that the 3 hidden bolts were removed, yeah?
If that boot and the bezel or I've heard it called "retainer plate" don't move then what purpose did the 5 10mm's serve ?

 

Factory Service Manuals can be found here from free. Foxed.ca