[Mac VP]

The retaining pins on the two shifter levers were swedged in by Ford and are typically very difficult to remove. This job is best accomplished by putting the housing in a sturdy vice, grinding off the head of the pin and driving it out with a 1/4” punch and heavy hammer. It’s not unusual for the pin to be extremely tight in the shaft.....often the hammer blows can further tighten the fit rather than pushing the old pin out. Sometimes you have to drill into the pin with a small bit, enough to relieve some of the metal and allow the punch to drive it out. Be careful that you don’t crack the housing with very heavy hammer blows.

It’s possible (but not easy) to remove the old oil seal by prying it out. Installing the new seal has its own difficulties because the lip of the new seal wants to flip over on you.

We remove the two shifter shafts completely, then clean them up. Sometimes the part of the shaft where the seal lip rides is worn and pitted. It should be replaced if you see that or the new seal will leak as well. We grind a bigger chamfer on the end of the shaft to make it easier to slide through the new seal without flipping the lip.

I can’t imagine trying to do this job with the shifter housing still bolted to the transmission, and do the work under the car.....