Greetings to all! Transmission shifter issue.

[uncurb]

I've used this forum before, in a general way, to broaden my knowledge of my inadvertently acquired Aerostar, as well as helping me with various minor issues. Thanks to all whose posts helped me!
I now find myself in over my head with a problem with the automatic transmission shift lever coming loose from where it bolts to the cable frame work anchor.
The small gold colored bolts have come loose & dropped to the floor, so I was not knowing exactly what gear I was in. I now have disassembled half (or more), of the dash, & instrument panel & dropped the steering column, & the aforementioned bolts are impossible to reintroduce to their respective holes, never mind trying to tighten them! Any advice anyone could give me would helpful, & especially an exploded diagram!
I have the Haynes Aerostar manual, but it's not very helpful in this area!
Thanks in advance, & help!
Bob Grady

 

[BrooklynBay]

These instructions & diagram of the column shift were in my Ford software:

 

[uncurb]

These instructions & diagram of the column shift were in my Ford software:

View attachment 93184

Thank you Brooklyn Bay, for a very timely response, but I think I may have misstated the problem! My problem is further inside of the area under the dash. When it (the shift lever)is moved, it causes the bracket to transmit the motion to the cable that goes to the actual transmission. this bracket is attached to the shift lever by the 3 or 4 gold colored pan head bolts, (T-30 recess in top,) mentioned in the previous posters post.)The problem that I'm having is to get those bolts back in their holes & tighten them in! To access this area I've been lying on the floor, my head on the brake pedal, with almost no room to move my hands. Obviously, I'm doing something wrong, or something is eluding me about how to get in there. I've got so much apart that I'm starting to think I won't get it back together properly!
I removed the 4 black nut/washer combos to lower the whole steering column assembly, but lowered it only, & couldn't move it around enough to get much better access to those bolts, the heads of which are towards the front, so whatever tool one is using, is forward of them. the bracket I'm speaking of transfers the shift lever motion to the cable that delivers the motion to the trans. In your diagram, you follow the shaft with the attaching pin down towards the front, & the next piece should be the trouble spot, further down the column, & off to the right, (going by the orientation of your diagram).
I've done steps 1 thru 6, in removal instructions above. I think what would be helpful is a diagram of the next section of the column assy, down & in front of the diagram you posted.
Again I'm very grateful for what you've posted already.

* this is a '95 Aerostar I'm referring to...

Bob G.

 

[BrooklynBay]

This diagram shows the support bracket:

 

[uncurb]

Thank you, again for a timely reply! This diagram is very helpful! I'm wondering if I was to detach the whole assembly, (the 4 black nut/washer combos) & remove it from the intermediate shaft, is there any thing I should be be wary of? The bracket I'm having so much trouble with is directly over the intermediate shaft in this diagram. It is the one w/two right angles, & what looks like a stud on the upper left.
I think that the stud is flanked by at least 2 if not 3 gold colored bolts w/ a recess accepting a T-30 bit. These bolts thread into the surface that the stud projects out from- my problem is that there is no room to thread them in & tighten them down, unless I can drop the whole column, & shove it slightly rearward, or is there a better way to gain access that I'm not recognizing? I'm hoping I've missed something here, but I'm shortly gonna go out & have another go at it!

Once again, thanks for staying with me on this!
Bob G.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Try using a long wobble extension to remove the bolts.