Finally started the car did I find the problem?
 

Thought it was the starter but in researching the problem in the shop forum I got the car to start in neutral. It takes shifting through the gears a few times to get it to start but when it's right it starts right up. My questions:

1) Can I rule out everything and say that it is the neutral safty switch.

2) I have to get under the car to check it. Can it be repaired or should i buy a new one.

3) Could anything be worn on my shift linkage and if so how would I tell.

Thank you

Since messing around with the lever activates it, most likely the switch is loose, misadjusted or a few bushings are worn out. There is no way you will know what until you get underneath and start wiggling and checking.

Good luck,

Thank you Larry I will try to get under the car sometime today. Is there anything I should be looking for that will slip by an untrained eye?

Isn't the switch something that you get to from inside the car?
I thought I saw something that looked a lot like a neutral safety switch when I was messing around inside the center console.
should be easier than crawling underneath.

dpbrowne,
You may want to check that the linkage bushings are still there. These wear out and can cause a fair amount of slop in the linkage. If my memory serves me correctly there are two and they are cheap but a ***** to get in. They're not hard to get at but the poly bushings don't compress much so they take a fair effort to get them to pop in the hole. If you need them do a search because I recall someone had a trick to help get them in.