I just installed a Pro 5.0 shifter on my GT. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most difficult)... Whenever I shift into 5th or Reverse, I would say it's about an 8.

The funny thing is when I unbolt the bottom of the shifter from the arm that connects it to the transmission, I can move the arm and the bottom of the shifter freely and easily in any direction. When I connect the two, it is very hard to get into 5th and Reverse. It's hard to even push the shift handle to the right from Neutral. The brass spacers are correctly installed (big one on the driver's side and small one on the passenger's side). In fact, everything is correctly installed.

Has anyone else experienced this difficulty in shifting with a Pro 5.0? I have noticed that it is getting slightly easier, but still there is no play once the shifter is forced into 5th or Reverse. Usually, while in other gears, the shifter handle has a very small amount of space (left to right) and can be moved around a wee bit. In 5th (and Reverse) the shifter handle seems lodged into a tight space and can't be moved left to right even a 10th of a millimeter. As a result, the vibrations on the shifter in 5th at highway speeds is dramatically increased.

Is this normal??? Will the shifts into 5th and Reverse loosen up over time???

 

Had the same thing, but yes, it eased up with time.