Here's how it is, nikkerz and I went to walmart today, we took the dogs with us as usual and when we come out we come to find that the ring that holds my O/D switch in is off and that part of the gear shifter is chewed on looks like it was from Dixie, so now I want to replace the shifter now because it looks like crap, I was reading in the haynes there is some for pin you have to punch out? Have no clue and looking for some tips and insight on the removal of the shifter before I start tearing the dash apart. Oh and the truck is Automatic. Thanks guys for any help ya can give me, I've only replaced Manual trans shifters and they are a piece of cake along with a slice of pie compared to what the manual says I need to do to the auto shifter. I'll also be looking for a replacement now, and what makes the shifter stiff? Is it how its held in or does the shifter itself have bushings? I like a stiff shifter and my current one isn't too stiff, I drove my dads 2000 and its kind of stiff and I like it that way.



Note: That dog is lucky I love her

 

the pin holds it into the "locks" on the column. and for the firmness, it has to do with the shift cable, i know it can be adjusted for the slop

 

Thanks do you have any tips as in how to tap that pin out without breaking it?

 

i want to say a punch with a tip the same size as the pin, to knock it out, then if you have to reuse it you use a thinner punch once it is in to expand it to lock it in.

 

Ok, when I get a new shifter (hopefully within a few days) I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for the tips, I was kinda scared of doing it, afraid of breaking it.