Hi there,

I agree that the shifter lever should not move up or down because there is a internal snap ring holding down the split spherical halves into the bracket. The bracket is a solidly welded up fixture to hold the shifter unit right onto the transmission.

If you can move the shifter up and down, then the adjustable “reverse guiding plate” would not restrain the shifter lever from going way too far over get reverse and miss first gear and second gear location line. Remember you need to pull up on the ring under the shift knob to do this!
The third to fourth alignment lines are limited within the gates in the top on the transmission that guide the actual shifting rod.
Fifth gear is a pause out to flip right in midstream.

Something has got to be amiss here!
The graphic illustration in the other post defines this!
Are you are pulling up and down the tail of the transmission too!
What shape in the rubber mount under the transmission going to the cross member?
Things would have to really soft or missing someplace?

I’m still trying to think out the smell issue and the heat to cause all of this.
I sure hope you have not gotten the transmission so hot that it has overheated the casted urethane foam rubber up in the top of the tunnel over the transmission. It can fall down onto the shift fixture.
It’s there to, supposedly, keep sounds, air drafts and any fumes from coming up from under the shifter boot!

You are definitely keeping us mystified with each new revelation!

Phil