Recently the shaft inside the manual shifter on my 1989 240DL true 5 speed manual transmission broke off about 3-4 inches above the floorboards, at the level of the hole drilled front to back through the shaft.
I have a couple of questions and hope you all can help me get this fixed or replaced since my mechanic says he is unable to locate a used replacement part after nearly three months of searching.

1. How can I find out or can someone tell me how many years this particular true 5speed manual transmission with this shaft was used?

1a. In all these years is the part number the same, and what is/ are the part numbers, or how can I find out online, if noboby knows?

2. Is there anyway to contact Volvo of America or Volvo International for help in getting this part? My local Volvo dealer simply said "Huh, never seen anything like that!" when I took it in attempting to get a replacement.

3. If I can't get a used part, or a new part from Volvo does anyone know of an aftermarker company that can fabricate a replacement, especially one in the southewest suburban Chicago region, like a racing or performance shop?

4. Is there anything else I haven't thought about or should know?

5. Maybe this sounds simple-minded, but is there anyway I can just get the end of the broken shaft threaded and have a new shifter know installed on the shorter shift lever?

6. The car has 188,700 original miles on it, and except for this problem it is in good shape.

Thanks to everyone. 1989guy240