I found if you tighten the base to the point where it slides sideways with some resistance, but will still return by the power of the spring, it eliminates alot of foreward/backwards slop. Maybe it will help. I havn't driven another manual in so long, but when i tightend mine it was like a new car. If it just didn't have any play at all, inside the gear notch i'd be happy. Right now mine has about 1/2 inch at the top movement.





How much play do the white bases have inside gears?

 

I can see something else cool in that picture. I knew what the triangular cup was (seat heater buttons) now I know the little coin slot is a replacement for the headlight adjustment wheel. Perty cool...

 

I've had the part numbers for some time to do the swap, and it looks like it would work. That would be the ultimate shifter for the RD, is the XD/GK setup with a short shifter. The one in that pic isn't stock, it's been aftermarketed in there.

 

i know back in the day on the old sharkracing forums, a few members swapped DSM shifter bases into our cars for a shorter throw. might be another route we could try.