I am having trouble getting the collar that holds the floor shifter to the transmission. Any help out there?
Start by putting the tranny in neutral. Remove the shift lever. Now try to install the collar. If it won't go without the shift lever, it certainly won't go with the lever in place. Once you get the collar to go on easily, remove the collar and re-install the shift lever in neutral. You have to press down against a spring, then turn. I use a pair of channel lock pliers, adjusted so the side of the jaws contact the top of the ball through the opening of the collar. Push down and turn clockwise with the pliers. They will grab the opening on the top of the collar and turn the whole collar.