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Replaced the seal for the shift arm on 81 auto transmission with little room to work ripped knuckles and just when I thought it was seated….. ripped it! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I think I will drink now!
Removing it is easy, drop the pan, remove the shift arm and shaft and pop it out with a screwdriver.
Getting it back in can be a challenge. You might be able to get on it with a short socket and tap it in with a hammer.
Worst case, drop the x-member and ease the back of the tranny so you can get a better angle on it. Watch the distributor cap on the firewall.
[as mentioned above] Small flat-blade screwdriver...poke tip through the rubber seal and under the casing, push down on handle to pop it out. Don't damage the shift shaft surface.