The shift lever is very loose in that it can move back and forth a good 4”. This was due to the lever mounting point was missing a factory spring. The spring is a bitch to install and has risk if you don’t follow a few tricks.
The big risk is trying to install the spring into the channel. It seats inside a hole on both sides. There is an opening at the lower side of the channel that goes into the steering column. If the spring oriented the right direction it wall through and into the steering column. The only way you can retrieve the spring is by removing the entire column. That would suck.
The trick(s) are to use a piece of thin cardboard cut to fit the channel and bent into an “L” shape to cover the channel opening. The other important precaution is to use a thin buss wire tied to the spring so it doesn’t fall in. I found this also served as a way to maneuver the spring around into the proper position.
While I was working on the steering column I also corrected the position of the steering wheel when the wheels are in the straight position.
I had a bitch of a time getting the horn ring off to access the center mounting bolt.