84 2.5 here.
I'm doing an Isuzu 5spd swap while the guts are out for a clutch replacement.
Tired of running high RPM at 65mph and would like to actually take her on the freeway without running it so high.
I heard rumor that my 84 4spd console shifter could be lightlymodified to work with the 5spd.
Is this true? and if so, has anyone performed it before?

I forget all the finer details, but years ago I sold a 4-spd shifter to someone who wished to modify it for use with a 6-spd tranny... so making it work with a 5-spd would seem to be doable. There's probably several threads on shifter modification in the archives.

[EDIT] Info in this thread might help you... Wanted- 5 spd shifter, or trade or sell my 4 spd shifter

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-16-2019).]

The gates are in the transmission. The shifter just moves the cables. Other than removing the reverse lockout if you have one (might block the shifter from moving to reverse), you really shouldnt have to do anything.