there's something missing under the boot, I'm not sure what.
You can pull the **** and all straight up, it moves around, and it is hard to shift into the right gear because it comes free.

anyone know what part that is?

There is a clip that goes around the shift ****, sounds like you lost that.

Nah, it was the shift boot, I guess.
It was a little plastic bushing the the shifter rests in and was bolted with a bracket to the tranny....I figured it out from someone replying earlier. and Now I got new fuel injectors, air breather set-up, exhaust and a couple other things on the way.
yeeaaa!.....What year is your car?

I own a few, an 86 Track car (for sale) and a cheated 924"S".
Did you see the shift lever that I'm selling??