I've got an 84 F250 4x4 with a New Process 435 transmission...I'm trying to replace the clutch, however I'm having a bear of a time just trying to get the shift lever off of the transmission!!!!

All of the reference material I have read says there is supposed to be an externally threaded retaining cap that you simply unscrew and boom -- the lever slides out...Sounds easy to me--but when I took off the shift boot inside the cab, there was no retaining cap whatsoever, no stub shaft, no nothing...the housing holding the shift assembly is completely one piece and there are two screw-like retaining pins that appear to hold the ball and spring assembly to the cover, but they are not bolts or allen screws so there's no way to grab ahold and give them a turn...

Do I have to remove the entire shift housing??? and if not, how do I get the shift lever out????

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated--thanks in advance....

Joe