THANKS! I appreciate the feedback. The shop put the bolt in to hold the new poly type bushings in place, and eliminated the wobble there that contributed to the slop. I don't know whether to be glad or disappointed to learn that all the other shifters you have seen have the same bushings and application. I have a weighted stainless steel ball shift **** coming in that should help settle things a little more. And now, having seen the actual assembly, I think I need to be more precise in my shifting technique and pay more attention to where I am in the gear pattern and locations. I have mostly had 4 gears to work with over the years, and these 6 are a lot closer together than what I am used to.

It is baffling to me that I have been unable to find these bushings in any diagram or numbered parts listing. All the bushing I could find and order looked just like you would expect them to look, and not at all like these red ones. Maybe I am just looking in all the wrong places (there is a song in there somewhere...) but the parts departments and vendors that I talked with could not find them either. They seem not to be a known item for either Chrysler or Mercedes.

Great advice to step back (off the ledge) and let the frustrations diminish. I think I will just drive the car (if it cooperates!) and try to be less in-tune with the things that could use improvement or fixing. With more driving and less wrenching I might remember why I bought the car in the first place.

You are also right about the title. I was referring to the fact that I could not find a part number or depiction of the bushings, but the real points of the post are not indicated by the title at all, and it is not at all clear whether I am offering help or asking for it! Thanks again for the feedback.