It shifts into gear nicely with the wrong shifter in. I'm calling the dealer first thing tomorrow. Thanks.

I went from a four speed to a five out of a '79 too.  Mine wouldn't go into some gears either, the shift rod was hitting the the top edge of the coupler that it sits down in.  I put some layout dye around the rod and tried the gears again with the engine off.  Then I removed the rod and saw the scratches in the blue dye.  Then I ever so sllightly ground into the rod, tried again, rinse repeat kinda deal but I eventually got all the gears.  I have some pictures on my laptop I can post in the morning.

The shifter that works is the short straight one right?  Out of the ZX?  

I wish I was at home!  

The shifter that goes into 2nd, 4th and reverse perfect is the 4 spd shifter. The 5 spd shifter has the missing sleeve which makes it super loose and sloppy. 

If we're talking about the same thing, here's what most people use.  Thanks to Blue for showing us the part number. 

Dorman 38374 from any parts store.  If I remember right it's the Chrysler bushings that fit.

It's in his Tech Tips BTW.

So those sleves will fit in the bottom of the shifter where the shifter attatches to the top of the transmission with the "c" clamp? So, this is a somewhat common problem? Slop in the shifter.

Yes.  The plastic OE ones get worn and looser.

Those bronze door pin bushing are much better.  I don't even know if  the plastic originals are still available?

1 minute ago, siteunseen said:

Yes.  The plastic OE ones get worn and looser.

Those bronze door pin bushing are much better.  I don't even know if  the plastic originals are still available?

Yes, they are. They tend to transmit less vibration than the brass ones. Personally I never have been bothered by that with the brass bushings.

I'm on it, thankyou.

Finally, back home!

Here's what I was talking about, if you run into it later on.

You see that little "nick" on the top shift rod, that's where mine was hitting the transmission housing or whatever it's called.

Here's what I had to do to get it working with the 5 speed.  It's been going good for almost a year now.

I am not sure what I have going on as of yet. I am going to get the brass sleeve first and hope for the best. I hope I don't have to go that route, but will if need be. thanks for pics.