Without the pin, the shift **** shaft still fits over the short shaft coming out of the linkage. So you can still hit all forward gears. The **** and outer boot will rotate 360 degrees without that locating pin. The pin orients the **** correctly and permits lifting the ****/shaft for reverse. Not sure what piece keeps the pin from coming out though. There appears to be a spring-loaded plastic sumbit*h that looks like it was supposed to cover the pin, preventing it from escaping, but obviously that didn't work.

Without the pin, I would have been searching for a skinny machine screw (1/8 x 1) but then again if the wife hadn't caught the pin, I wouldn't have even known one was needed. All in all, an eye-opening experience.