[wdb]

Short version: has anyone ever done the whole installation from above, without jacking up the car?

I recently purchased a Rogue Engineering short shifter from a forum member. The kit includes a shift lever and pivot -- no other rods etc. in this kit. Reading through the installation instructions, it looks as though it can all be done from above. However now that I'm looking down through that little opening around the lever, and looking at that clip on the end of the lever, and those little washers, and I'm thinking yeah -- if I drop one of those I will be in a world of hurt. Plus getting the linkage and lever reassembled could be a trick. So my question is, has anyone ever done the job completely from the top? If so please share any tips/tricks.

Second question: If I have to drop the exhaust etc. anyway, what else should I be doing while it's apart? Other shifter parts, transmission mounts, you tell me.