I wondered because a (Chrysler) service manual says do not remove the shifter from tranny...leave the stub in the tranny. I also noticed a magazine article, build up...in the pictures you could see the short stub still in the tranny...looked like it had a couple of grooves where the top presses on...as if a couple snap rings or something is inside??
So I assume seperating the shifter would be good..."if" it would come apart? Old age has probably changed easiest procedure?