As the final step (I hope) in reducing the slop in my '04 Coupe LTD 6 speed shifter mechanism I swapped the OEM **** with a weighted stainless steel ****. I had to shorten the shaft in order to create a thick enough diameter to adapt the shifter ****, but that actually helped create a short shifter set-up and (I think) improved ther aesthetics considerably. The result is that the remaining wobble and slop in the mechanism have been largely tamed, the weight aids in moving more easily into the proper gear position, and the feel of the whole mechanism and process of shifting is much more substantial and smooth. If anyone is interested, I can post the sources of the parts I used and describe the process a little more specifically, Pics show the look, which fits quite nicely with the OEM cockpit and console.


.nmnn