AODE Cable removal - NotA4.6?

[BlackVert]

I am trying to swap my 99+ shifter out and put in a 94 one. FWIW, the 99+ shifter is about 1/4" taller than the earlier ones, so the bezel around the shifter doesn't line up right with the center section of the dash.

So I got the bolts out and lifted the shifter assembly out, and I got the cable end off, but I cannot disconnect the cable from the bracket. I am talking about the place there where the cable is attached to the bracket at the end of the shifter assembly.

Any thoughts?

This pic is from Mark's thread about converting from an AOD-E to a T5. I hope Mark doesn't mind my using it, thanks.

 

[BlackVert]

OK, never mind that last question ... I kinda broke it, but I got it out.

So now I have a new question ... the 94 one I have does not seem to be any shorter ... what gives?

Is the plastic bezel piece (that sits on the shifter and attaches to the front console section) different for manuals and automatics?

 

[Chythar]

when I went from automatic to manual on my Cobra clone, I noticed the wrecked Cobra had a metal pedestal that the manual shifter sat on. Essentially, manual 'Stangs have two holes through the floor to get to the tranny, AODE 'Stangs have just one. Mustangs with an AODE do not have this pedestal. The best photo I have is this one, of the wrecked Cobra:

If you see up at the top of the photo, there's a large hole where the shifter used to be. If you can imagine the ragged hole covered smooth across, that's about what the AODE's have. The manual tranny cars have a piece of metal welded over that spot that raises the shifter up a couple of inches. To make sure my Cobra clone was just right, me and a buddy cut the metal pedestal out of the wrecked Cobra and welded it into the clone. To get the AODE shifter handle to fit, you'll likely have to cut that metal out. You may have to add some metal around the bottom hole to be about to mount the AODE shifter in properly; I had to cut out some metal so the T5 shifter housing didn't rub on anything.

And no, I don't have the parts in the photo anymore.