So I had my hatch up in the air today because it was giving me problems gettin into all the upper gears. I checked the shift linkage and noticed the bar is bent and rubbing the stabilizer bar next to it. If I heat up the shift linkage with a torch to bend it back to where its supposed to be, will that hurt the integrity of the metal or do damage do it? It's not bent badly, just enough to be touching the other bar.

 

It shouldnt hurt just dont put to much heat on it.

 

if it were me
i would remove the whole shifter linkage assm
and use a press or maybe a vice

but heating it with a torch shouldnt hurt if you dont heat it up to much.
but when you go to bend it back you could damage bushings or other stuff
you will definatly burn off the coating paint.
make sure to paint back over it to reseal the metal

 

Alright, thanks, will give it a try

 

How did it all work out?

 

Happened to my buddy, we left it on, used a small jack to bend it back, worked perfectly.