Its really easy, and no don't take the linkage off...
1. Jack up car.
2. Go under and undo the bolt for the shifter linkage at the bottom of the shifter, move the linkage out of the way.
3. Undo the bolts for the bracket that holds the shifter in place.
4. Pull down shifter and replace with new one, grease where it says to.
5. Put the bracket back in
6. Bolt the shifter to the linkage
7. Drop down car
And I would recommend upgrading to new Polyurethane bushings while you are at it. The rectangular bushing goes on the bracket (you will see it) and the other donut bushing goes where the torque rod (part of the linkage that stabilizes it) connects to the tranny.