Pudding Stirrer?

[evilC]

I have a standard pudding stirrer shifter in the 1303 Super. The shift is so bad that the shift pattern looks like an intersection roundabout rather than an 'H' gate. The shift stick spins in its bearing that also makes life a little less positive and has the habit of unscrewing the ball knob as you try to make a sensible H pattern shift. This is all at standstill and I have yet to experience it on the road (won't be long though). The engine is a standard 1600tp at the moment that I don't intend to substitute (daughter going through the learner process) for a couple of years so I don't really want to pull the engine and tranny. Is there anything that I can do to crispen up the gear change at the shifter end in the interim? I have looked at the aftermarket shifters such as Empi, Gene Berg, CSP etc but all have a trigger for the reverse lock out that I don't like the principle of. (I will be using it for autotesting and road rallying where very quick forward/reverse selection is required and grabbing a trigger in the heat of the moment could be hit or miss and a bit painful!) The Bug@5speed shifter for the 901 box looks good with the spring loaded LH rail and that is the pattern that I would ultimately prefer. I am not adverse to fabricating something but if I can get the standard shifter to perform in the meantime that would be useful.
I am also aware of the cheap quick shift options but I don't want to fit that only to discover that all its done is reduce the basic aweful pattern but that its still there.

Thanks

Clive