short throw shifter mishap

So after some research I bought the s13 short throw shifter off ebay for the "C" tranny.  Although I do admit I am a noob when it comes to cars I thought I would be able to handle a short shifter install since most people say its easy and hard to screw up. Well i guess im one of those people that screwed up.  After installation which was harder then i thought would be due to the "c clip" and other ring was hard to get out.. everything worked fine until I tested reverse.  It shifts fine into all gears except reverse, if i try to shift into reverse it either grinds when if i try to reverse or pop out of gear.  about 1 out of 20 tries i can reverse normally if i hold it down hella hard into reverse but  then I rather just push the car back instead of taking the chance of messing up my transmission. 

anyone experience this? or can give me tips? maybe direct me to a more specific guide.. I tried to follow an s13 shift install guide but some of the pieces didn't fit that came with the shifter. 

I installed the stock shifter back in but real quick because I was running out of daylight but still no reverse.  I am going to try again today .. no reverse is a pain =[ and this is my only car

something didn't get put back together right.

when you installed the short shifter: describe the engagement

IE goes in freely, but no feeling of engagement. connect, or meshing etc..

from what i can figure is that you did something wrong 2x times.
1. installed short shifter no reverse
2. installed OEM shifter back no reverse

sounds like you put something back in out of order or your missing something.

spring, spacer, spacer ring, plastic spacer

i have c clip
then the ring that fits into the slot thats hella hard to put in. looks like this but metal 
but the shifter moves up and down so i tried to put c clip. plastic piece then ring .. here..

theres a lot of up and down freeplay and the shifter pulls up easily which i think is the cause of this.. im not sure how to get it to stay down. =[

taktics702 on 09:13:40 AM / 21-Sep-10I installed the stock shifter back in but real quick because I was running out of daylight but still no reverse.  I am going to try again today .. no reverse is a pain =[ and this is my only car

up and down freeplay? you sure the spacer was in right?

ok well i got it to work now =] i guess ill give the short shifter another shot
i have in, in this order, shifter, plastic ring, c clip, metal ring.

going off your pic none of those don't look like the short shifter from ebay......also did you install the shifter in backwards lol not trying to be a smartass because I actually did the same thing....and my black car came with a short shifter and it pops out of reverse everynow and then I just shove it back in and hold it till I start to reverse.

Also you know you can hit me or iggy up if you need help since your in vegas we're always down to help a fellow s12'er shoot me a pm with your number or something.

ah nah i dont have a camera i just had to find that pic from another thread.  oh yeah for sure man, ill hit u up ..

im pretty sure i didnt install it backwards.. i installed it with the end of the shifter pointed towards me.