reverse issue with an 8v tranny

[calimus at techography.net (Calimus)]

On monday my wife took the cabby to the shop for an alingment, when the guy
went to move the car into the bay, my wife said he ground the hell outta
reverse.  After that ordreal, she was able to get the car into reverse two
more times thats day.  Next day the car wouldn't go into reverse at all,
felt like it was tryin to jam.

So I got home that night and started having a look, found that the main
shifter bushing was shot, so I replaced it.  This didn't help.  So tonight I
left the shift rod dissconnected and tried to manually put the car into
reverse by the shift lever arm on the tranny.  It won't go.  I can pull it
in but it won't pivot to make the shift into reverse.  All the other gears
are fine.  So what the hell is going on with the damn tranny folks?  I'm
pretty much at a loss.  Clutch is good, all other gears are good.  Need some
advice pretty quick as I'd like to get her car back on the road.  I don't
have a spare tranny handy though I'm sure if I had to I could source one.
But I don't see how reverse can be there one time and gone the next with no
indication.  Spinning the tires while in gear doesn't help or with them out
of gear.

WFT, help?

William