Yup, Well I've only owned the car 4 days today. I picked it up in cal city and traded a friend straight up for a 91 accord lx(a bucket).
drove it through desert terrain for about 20 minutes until paved streets came back, I noticed the shifter comes straight up. and it's moving around freely.
What part is this?...I pulled the consol off and it looks like the ball at the bottom is supposed to rest in a circular indent...but its not stuck in there.
I hae no idea what that is.

anyone help?

 

Sounds like the shifter lever has popped out of the cup bushing. Remove the shift rod from the side of the shift lever by removing the e clip. Slide the rod off. Then dig down through the foam, and you will find 2 13mm (head size) bolts holding the shifter assembly to the torque tube. Obviously, your shift lever will already be out of the way since it isn't attached like it should be. Remove the 2 13mm bolts, and pull out the metal plate. Underneath that plate sits a plastic cup bushing. More than likely it is cracked and needs to be replaced. It is about 5 bucks. Now inspect the shift lever where the rod was attached.....if it looks worn like an hour glass, then I would replace the lever as well....they are about 40 bucks, and will help to clear up and side to side slop you have been feeling in the shifter.

 

Ahh cool man.
Thanks, I'll check in the morning so I have daylight, keep you guys posted.
and one more thing, also I tried to hook a stereo up and there wasnt any wires or anything under the dash.

 

No wires? They have to be there in the center console area. The harness would be extremely hard to pull the wires from at that point of the harness.

 

OK I checked and that was the problem, a new shifter boot and clips is 40 bucks.
so not bad...