Removing 4 speed shifter help

[Geo's66]

guys, how do I remove the shifter in the pic here? Do I have to remove the long bolt an mess with the spring mechanism or am I missing where there is a way to just remove the shifter at the bottom of the chrome part?

 

[ssn696]

Did you try just pulling up? I remember once lifting to put a three-speed in reverse and pulled the whole shifter out of the console.

 

[Geo's66]

Ha, there is a square rubber grommet on the shifter shaft as it meets the beafier part that is the long bolt area. There has to be a way to remove the shifter itself. Otherwise, it would have been a huge task for any dealership repair back in the day. This is driving me crazy. Thanks

 

[pontiacgp]

you slide something slim down on each side to depress the rubber tabs. Some guys got tired of playing with the rubber tabs and drilled a hole to use a bolt.

 

[Geo's66]

Ahhhh..... That's makes sense! Great pic of the deal... I'll try this and if I break the rubber tab, drill a hole in the shifter upon reassembly... Very good work and thank you! Spent way too much time looking at this thing over the weekend trying to figure it out.