Just remembered (I think)... There are little plastc gears in the t-case end. In my 87, the cable had gotten too "sticky" and started to bind. This in turn caused those gears to strip. Had another donor so I pulled some parts from it.

Big Truck: 00, 3.5, Endeavor, 5-Spd drive line in hand!
Little Truck: 87, 2.6T I/C, MT, LSDs, Tonneau Top
Her Truck: 03, 3.8, 20th Anniv, 65k
Daughter's: 06 Eclipse, Keeping it Mitsu!
FSMs: MitsubishiLinks.com