I'd like to take apart the console shift lever on my 65 (auto tranny) to send it for chrome restoration. I've got the lever out of its metal bracket. How do I remove the top plastic button, internal shaft, and tension spring? I can see what looks like a very small drift pin in the flat stop piece at the bottom of the internal shaft. Does that have to be punched out to remove the internal shaft? Or is there a screw in between the tension spring that holds the internal shaft in the flat stop piece. (that stop piece limits travel on the internal shaft). Or should I just polish the lever and forget about it ?

Thanks for the help

You got it right. The roll pin (drift pin) has to be forced out and it all comes apart.

Thanks, Rod, for the quick answer. Can the roll pin be reused or is it wise to replace it ?

You can reuse it, but your local hardware store should have them for sale individually for Cents.

Ok, I got the shift lever apart for chroming. Don't need to puch out the roll pin. Here are the steps after removing the assembly from its floor bracket: 1) compress the bottom spring with your fingers or screwdriver, 2) work out the lower washer from under the spring, 3) remove the spring, 4) remove the washer that held the top of the spring, 5) compress the plastic reverse lockout button until it bottoms out, 6) with a small hammer, tap gently on the shift indexing tap, driving the center rod from the plastic button. The plastic button is a slip fit on the center rod. There is a spring under the plastic knob. That's it, real simple. Off to the chrome guy.