Pulling engine block with transmission
 

I'm pulling my 1985 740 engine block with the M46 attached is there a way to remove the shifter or do I have to remove the triangle bar bracket from the tranny first? thanks for your help

You can remove the shifter by loosing the set screw on the end of the shifter that holds the pivot pin to the linkage, loosen that screw and slide the pin out.
There is also an internal snap ring that holds the shifter into the shifter bracket.
Remove those two and the wiring and there will not be any shifter in the way.

Shifter
 

I got the set screw and pin out but didn't see the ring. Two out of three.

thanks

Look near the base of the shifter lever from inside the car. See item D6:
Attachment 951

Shifter removal
 

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thank you