97 Ranger 2WD 2.3L. Trying to do a clutch job. Can't even start right! The manual says to remove a bolt at the base of the stick and it should slide right off. Yeah!!!

First there was a nut on a bolt. The nut came off easy but nothing happened. The threaded bolt (with nothing to turn) stayed on. Tried PB with a vice grip to unscrew the bolt but no luck.

Then I unscrewed the shifter cover to the tranny and pried the shifter off. The whole shifter and cover came off from where it connects inside the tranny.

Is that how it should come off? The manual hints that the shifter slides off at the bottom and the cover stays on?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

No thats not the way, but since you have done that continue on. Take the nut and put it on the back side of the slide into the shift arm and screw it on, should pull the shaft out for ya.

If all else fails leave nut on back off a few threads and tap to loosen, dont hit hard or you will screw up the threads.