My 4 speed shifter seems to be very sloppy. I took off the boot and can look down through the hole. From the pictures of the Hurst shifter I have seen. It looks like 2 bolts hold the shifter handle on to the shift mechanism. Mine says Muncie on the chrome handle and it seems to be loose as it mounts in the channel where the bolts appear to be on the Hurst shifters. It looks like there is a pin with a keeper or something that holds the handle in from front to back within the channel. I have not got under the car to get a better look. Should the handle be bolted with 2 bolts to the channel piece on the shifter? If so, that may be why the shifter is sloppy???

A Muncie handle is integral with the shifter!

And the shifter bolts to a cradle that in turn bolts to the drivers side of the crossmember along with a torque arm link that bolts to the top drivers side tranny bolt and then back to the shifter!

I would pull it out and give it a GOOD cleaning and oiling an then put it back in and then use a 1/4" bit to readjust the levers at center until it shifted like you want. I adjust mine so I lead second to third and third to second about a thread to thread and a half so that the "H" is sloped up ever so slightly going from second to third! (This is a feelie thing to me!!!)

And there is a plastic "ca-plug" that holds the reverse, pressure ball, spring and grease for lube that may be damaged on yours such that it makes it feel like there is a lot of play going all the way back and forth at the "H". Check this too if you want to tear the shifter down that much?

The shifter in my car has it's ca-plug and guts in it whereas my other shifter doesn't... And it is hard for me to keep from trying to go into reverse all the time. You will see what I mean if you remove it and try shifting it....

pdq67