coincidence or did i cause this,

[spareparts]

shift shaft seal, not a biggie, drop the lower like you're going to put a water pump in. Buy the special tool to remove the shift shaft bushing, its not that much, screw the old bushing out, screw the new one in. Look at the seal surface on the shift shaft, if its worn, replace the shift shaft(pulls straight out once the bushing has been removed). The older ones were steel and corroded, the newer ones are stainless. Look at the splines on the end of the shaft as well, if they are eroded, replace the shaft. Put a water pump in while you have it apart