Im planning to take off the center console (that holds the stereo, lighter, shifter) and it looks like the automatic shifter will be a bitch... ive know where all the screws are and my only problem will be the shifter body coz it looks like i need to do some prying and stuff...

 

? If you're just taking off the console, there's no bitch about it.
take off the screws on the side, the screws above the A/C, then pry out that square ring that goes around the base of the shifter. Where's the bitch??

 

Prying it... since i got paranoid pryin and breaking stuff like my window panel..

 

I usually just use my fingers to pry up that piece - so I don't break it. But you should have no problem...