Shifter bushing replacement - stripped set screw

[eholster]

As the title says...
Since purchase of the car a few months back there have been issues with the shifter. Coming out of 5th is the biggest issue - gentle, gentle, crap, still nicks reverse!! Shifting out of 3rd takes a shoulder displacing pull...
So, I went to replace the shifter bushings on my '79 SC this afternoon and found in its former ownership the socket of the set screw on the the ball cup bushing receiver was stripped. The plan was to replace the tunnel bushing just behind the shifter as well as the ball cup bush.
Of course when things go well there are rarely interruptions. Today things came apart with relative ease, but as afternoon turned to eve, finding the simple task at hand not so simple, and with dwindling sunlight I found myself having to entertain almost every neighbor who wanted to stand around, mostly drunk, and smoke cigarettes and talk at me about the most inane crap. "Whatcha doin?" "I'm a diesel mechanic for the Coast Guard..." "Did you see the boats in the water the other day?" Ahhggg!
I digress.... anyone have a suggestion for the set screw? Unfortunately not enough room to get much of anything in there - I had to cut down a hex key just to attempt removal.
Thanks!

[eholster]

Okay, after looking through old posts on this it seems like I can disconnect the shift coupler, rotate the bushing cup around, and then perhaps use an easy out on the set screw.

[Joe Bob]

If the bushing 'Coupler' is what is stuck.....and it's inside the shifter hole, you might be able to lift is high enough to take a dremel down each side and split it in half.

That is if you can't drill out the set screw....

[eholster]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

If the bushing 'Coupler' is what is stuck.....and it's inside the shifter hole, you might be able to lift is high enough to take a dremel down each side and split it in half.

That is if you can't drill out the set screw....

Joe Bob - No, it is the set screw on the bushing cup on the fore end of the shift rod.

[Joe Bob]

Yes, I know.....the set screw is on the driver's side and at the bottom of the 'cup' at a right angle to the rod.

If you disconnect the bushing in the back seat, the rod should be free to rotate in the tunnel. You should then be able to rotate it to the right towards the passenger seat so that the screw is facing straight up.

I think you can clamp it and then drill it.

[eholster]

I managed to extract the set screw with an easy out this afternoon. Lucky me, it wasn't just a simple set screw, but instead a tapered set screw. After a run to not one but three hardware stores for another set screw of the proper length, then a trip to work, I was able turn a new one on the lathe. It looked like the old one had bottomed out on the shoulder so I increased the length of the taper. Before removing the bushing cup I noticed it had a little bit of play which I was able to decrease, but still just a tad remains. I have read posts here where people weld the bushing cup to the shift rod, but that seems to give a level of permanence I'm not comfortable with right now.