Thread: Anyone run into this issue? (ES shifter bushing install) ?!?!

Hi guys, I installed a short shifter last week and realized the OEM, 180k mile shifter bushing was on it's way out, its ripped and falling apart. I ordered this new ES one from Greg:
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Install looks simple, but there is a problem. Once I broke them loose, both 10mm nuts just spin the bolts that hold the OEM assembly in, and there's NOTHING to grab onto up inside the car to hold them still.

Old assembly pics:
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And after the short shifter install, it ripped. Which means the shifter assembly basically rests on top of the cat, unless I zip tie it:
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I have both a torch and a saw, but there's not enough room to get up in there. This is a huge pain. If the original shifter bushing wasn't destroyed now (last pic) I would have the said the hell with it and not bothered, but as you can see from the one pic it's done.

So my question is, has anyone run into this problem, and if so, how did you get around it? Someone said try grinding the bolts off up top?

You may have to weld the studs in place again.

Ok, but how do I first remove the old ones?

Sounds like they're broken...probably your pal Rusty. Or maybe the pressed in portion up top is no longer pressed in at which point I would just drill them out. However it's easiest...drill out up top, grind off up top, cut off from bottom, torch it cuz B14.

I thought I remembered there at least being 2 flat sides up top...so crescent wrench up top to hold while you try and crack it loose from the bottom (2 people?) ...maybe?

Just drill 'em out/grind 'em off...replace with SS hardware...then torch

Ok, so I should get one of those broken bolt removal kits for the drill

This is a pic of the bolts that are the little trouble makers (bottom left & right). The one on the right freely spins, the one on the left spins when you get the 10mm nut loose enough from underneath the car. The tops are sort of circular and there's not really a socket or something you can put on them with 2 people from above to stop them from spinning:
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I remember reading about this a long time ago... Short Shifter Installation

Looks like they had the same problem. Thanks for the link I will try what they said. It is almost as if Nissan never intended for this stuff to be removed, haha.

The bushing needs modified to fit all the OEM stuff. Grind away one lip so the bushing is flush with the gold bracket. That ground away lip faces towards the front of the car.

Thanks. Grind away where? This is the ES bushing from the other side as in the OP: