[silverlock]

The BEST tip I ever got for aligning a shifter and the linkage is to put the car in third, and get the center plane dead on.

- Keep the clamp between the shift rod to the shifter and the shift linkage just loose enough that it can self-adjust a bit.
- Get the 3-4 plane dead on. Back and forth several times, HARD. You want the rod and linkage to settle into the right position. Your 3-4 / 4-3 shifts should have no real resistance.
- Tighten down - a dab of (blue) loctite on the knurled shift rod end or the clamp bolt itself can help too, as it can twist out of alignment over time, especially if you drive hard.
- Validate that 1-2 and 5-R work — if you get 3-4 right it's almost a certain that those will be fine.

I've done this a few times now — even while squeezed into the back seat :-)