ordered this today...

http://www.autotech.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=stock&Product_Code=10-715-099K

and it includes the main shift rod bushing... I'll just have to drill out the pop rivets in the old bracket to put the new one in.

Also I was up under it today and found one of the bushings (number 3 in the diagram you listed) had popped up and was just floating on the shaft. the selector ball as well as the bushing that I saw looked fairly new... so I'm curious if someone tried replacing them before.

I'm still having issues with left to right movement in the shifter... so I'm hoping the new shift rod bushing will cure some of that. I still have to push down on the shifter to get the gate for first and second... seems like the shifter's "home position" is the 3-4 gate, but doesnt want to move at all towards the 1-2 gate without pushing down on the shifter. and when I go to fifth... no grinding... but when I let out on the clutch I just hear rumbling from the tranny and it acts like its in neutral.... any ideas on THAT?