If you suffer from the sloppy shifter, but the torx bolts in the column are all tight, and the bushings that hold the shift rod on the column are all good, do this:
1. Take the steering column shroud off
-turn the ignition key to run
-use a small screwdriver or Allen key to push in the detent under the column and pull the ignition out
-remove the 3 Phillips screws that hold the shroud to the column
-remove the upper and lower pieces of the shroud (you may have to remove the dash panel and tilt the wheel all the way down
-reinstall the ignition switch so you can turn it off and make the dinging stop.
2. Look at where the shifter lever attaches to the column and wiggle the lever. If there is excessive play at the point where the lever meets the column, check to make sure that the bushing is still in there. Mine was shredded, and there was a lot of play.
3. To replace the bushing, just pull out the pin that holds the shifter, dig out the pieces of the old bushing, and install the new one.

the part number of the bushing is in the picture below. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures while I was doing it, but it is fairly simple. Hopefully this helps someone! It made my shifter like factory new!

 

Here are some pictures to go with your post .....Starts at post #27. I changed my bushings and it removed the sloppy shifting.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...rebuild-2.html

Tim M

 

I stole some of your pictures, but where the little grey rubber piece is here: was supposed to look like this:

This actually surrounds the selector lever and the pin goes through it as well. I had no play in the column, it was all in the lever because this piece was missing. Well not really missing, I found remnants of it in the column.

 

I didn't see what size hammer to use and where to insert the welding rod? LOL

Thanks for the info and pics, good info

 

A big thanks to the OP!