major shifter problems

[o3shortbed]

im working on a 1995 chevy 2500 4wd with the big cast iron 5-speed. i know the truck real well and have drove it before. when the owner brough it to me the tranny was stuck in 2nd gear. i removed the shifter and found that it had poped out. i set the tranny back in neutral and reinstalled the shifter in the right place. now it feels like the shifter is rubbing the forks when you move it left and right. i losened the four bolts holding it in untill it stopped doing it but now the shifter is too loose. what the f people? do i need a new shifter or the spacer?