If the transmission has all of it's positions and moves freely through all of the detent notches when the lever is operated, adjust the shift indicator cable attached to the lower edge of the shift collar. It's under the lower dash panel cover. It's a clip attached to the plastic collar that rotates with movement of the shift lever.

Place the transmission in neutral, remove the clip that's attached to the cable that moves the indicator needle (hang onto it, it's spring loaded!), move the indicator by pulling on the cable until it lines the needle up with neutral. Reattach the clip to the collar.

 

sounds like you have to adjust the shift rod that attaches to the tranny from column. take a look at the tranny end, its threaded. take it off the tranny,manually shift tranny into park, then adjust length till it will just fit in, then test and make sure it will shift down into 1st

 

X2 on diaric's idea. Remove the lock bolt from the collar and slide shaft up and down a little. You may have to take it all the way off and use a wire brush on the shaft to clean it up some. Use some anti sieze. You may have to heat it with a torch to loosen it.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, but its actually the right way to go.

 

Sorry guys, I quit reading too soon! I thought it had all the gears, just not in the right place! Yup, do the rod adjustment, then check and adjust the pointer as necessary.

 

thanks guys. I got it fixed. It does have all the gears and now goes into all of them. just had to loosen the bolt on the linkage and move the tranny manually into park and then re-tighten.

 

good to hear