The shifter in my 88 is very loose in the socket. I have already replaced the rubber (blue rings above and below the shifter ball) seals a couple of times, but it never really feels tight. I sometimes think this is just a perception thing because I am used to driving my 94 (it has true snick-snick shifting).

Is there a mod available that will make my old shifter feel like the direct connect it is instead of like a linkage shifter?

 

there are 2 sets of bushings, you have to replace both of them to get the snick snick feel back, mine was really bad, i replaced the top bushing and it helped a little but not enough, try doing the bottem set

 

There are two ring bushings? Or two sets of bushings?

 

There are two bushings, not two sets of bushing (as far as I know anyway). The feel you speak of could be the spring that keeps tension on the shifter when in neutral. The one in my '87 was broken and it made it feel sort of loose. One thing though......your FC shifter will probably never feel like the FD shifter. You could try a short shift kit, it might improve the feel.

Todd