I did a search and read up on a procedure to get my shifter shaft out to replace it with a shaft converter. this is on a W126 300SD.

so i removed the wood around the shifter and disconnected all the buttons. I am assuming i need to remove the big black plastic box around the shifter to access the bold on the other end of the shaft? how do i get around to removing this? it seems to be one solid piece and bolted to the car with 4 bolts? can someone tell me how do go ahead withthis procedure?

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198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

Once the wood trim is off you only need to remove the "lid" of the black box (just the gated part). There are two plastic pins at the front of the box, one on either side. Pull them out (toward the ashtray) first. Once the pins are removed you just need to pry off the top of the box. A flathead screwdriver will help. You will obviously not be able to fully remove this part, since the opening in the gate is smaller than the shifter handle, so it's pretty tight in there.