Ok, VW... you've got the prize for the most part to position to assemble
the 5sp linkage...
   Sorry for the rant...
  Anyway, under the floor, the shift linkage of the 5sp gearbox has a
spring loaded plunger to allow the lever to come way over to the driver's
side as you select reverse.  You must push down to put the plunger in a
clear path, then it hits the "box" under tbe floor and tbere is another
tiny hidden spring, goes up the lever in a blind bidden hole, and on top of
that, there's a tiny ball.
    this little ball rides against the plunger, the other spring-loaded
tbing that keeps you from getting reverse gear when you're wanting
something to go forward.   There is a groove around that plunger that the
tiny soring loaded ball is supposed to ride in, until you want reverse,
tben tbe lever pressure against the end of the plunger, levered against the
"box" wall is supposed to overpower tbat tiny hidden spring and allow tbe
ball bearing to get pushed out of the groove so tbat other plunger can
slide over and you get reverse...Then, when you shift out of reverse, that
tiny spring pushes the ball  bearing back into the groove in the plunger
and set it in place again.
   The ball bearing is gone.  I found one that looked close, but It's too
small, and the groove hits it above center, forcing it to not work...
  Anyway, what size is.tbat retaining ball for the reverse gate on a
Vanagon 5 sp, if anyone knows.... thanks