Well I finally got the top cover spring for my getrag but Im not sure how to get the old one out. The base is much wider then the top so it will not pull out of the shifter hole. Do I have to disassemble the shift forks to get it out? If so How?? Thanks

 

high< I just replaced my shift thrust spring and you just need patience. I am shure some will correct me. I started by putting bb's between the shift rails and plugs and I used a rubber mallet to hit the shift forks to pop the plugs x3 out. I did not replace the plugs. I used a roll bin punch to remove the roll pins. There is a special order that the forks have to be removed because the roll pins will not come fuly out of shift rail to slide rail out. I removed components in such a way so that I did not have to remove detent ***** and safety *****. the center rail has two flats on it and you are able to remove those two rollpins on that shaft you can slide that shaft out but not all the way. make sure that the other shafts are in neutral. turn center shaft so flat is toward the shaft opposite the shaft with the largest fork. REmove roll pin out of the fork thruogh the plug on the top of the cover I cant remember the rest because i took it apart in the wrong order an d had to get the roll pins back in the shafts so i could slide them away from each other My point is make sure there is enough room to totally remove the roll pins so shafts could slide freely. This might not help but it should make you aware.
by the way where did you aquire the spring? I had a heck of a time finding one. I was not about to spend 430 dollars for a reman cover not when the spring was 20 dollars.

 

Cover has to come off. Long story short.

 

Wins post was very informative, but I still cant figure out why I cant get the stinking shift rails to come out. I removed the end plugs and the 2 roll pins in one of the rails but the thing will not budge even when i hit it with a hammer and brass drift. Im stumped. I almost ready to just get the $400 remaned top cover even though thats highway robbery.
I got the spring from drivetrain.com for around $26

 

There are some springs and detents in there. Take out the reverse light switch. and be careful but springs and parts will go flyin.