Driving home from Omaha last week, I thought the shifter was getting a
little mushy and almost banging the dash in first and third.  I initially
thought the coupler under the van was loose making the rods slide inside
each other and still shift gears, but take more movement than
normal.  WRONG!!.  After it got so bad that it wouldn't get into first or
third, I pulled up the boot and the shifter "stick" was broken almost all
the way through.  Have temporarily shoved a beveled 7/16" threaded rod half
way insied both pieces and it will get me by for now.

If anyone has a used shifter rod they'd like to sell or swap for something,
p mail me and we'll talk.

Thanks

Max