Just bought an 86 GT Coupe...to shift into reverse you have to push down on the shifter and find the gate, my shifter feels like it is always in this unsprung position...in other words you can pull up on the shifter and run thru the forward gears. Is there a spring in the shifter that keeps the shifter "up"? Don't have a manual yet so any tribal knowledge will help. Will have questions about the passenger power window coming soon! Thanx

 

As far as I know, the reverse lockout (having to push down the shift ****, on some ford cars there's a little **** thing you have to pull up), but they have a spring. Do you HAVE to pull up on the **** to go through the forward gears? If so, I would say look for a new spring. I'd imagine they aren't pricey at all, probably a few dollars at most. Then again, they could be more expensive. My 200QT has a similar thing. pretty sure it does have a spring.

 

It has a rubber mounting that is probably broken (not strange at this age)