Pulling transmission

Ok I dont have a very good shot of this, but take a look here I just removed the top center of my console on my 85. As I remember there were scres from the sides holding the face of the console and one screw through the center of the A/C controls. After you have the console open you will see a rubber boot/bellows style cover around the gearshift secured by a giant hose clamp. Whne you remove the hose clamp you can pull the bellows of the shifter ( is used some armour all to make it slide). When you have that off you will see a metal bell shaped housing that is secured to the floor by sheet metal screws. Remove that to get at the next rubber boot/bellows. Remove the hose clamp and pull it off to reveal a bolt that holds the shaft to the top of the trans shifter. Hope this helps, and I hope my 85 is similar to your 88.
Gabriel

 

I hope my 85 is similar to your 88

The monopod versions (86-on) have a radically different method to get started with removal due to the extension bit they have that goes all the way back around the parking brake handle and a different ashtray layout.

However once that's out of the way, it's quite simular indeed to the dual pod setup (85-n-older).

 

Great. Thanks Gabriel. I will be digging into this tonight or tomorrow....

Thanks,
Rob

 

I recall that to remove the console face (the part that the shift boot is attached to), the radio needs to be removed in order to access the two console face pinch nuts.

 

From da manual (printable size files):