Greygears

I just bought a nice 89' Z24 2WD 5Spd. pick-up. the transmission shifter boot (the one that clamps to the top of the transmission) is torn and leaking like a sieve. I got a new one from the dealer for about $8. My question is, how in hell do you change it? The small end of the boot is way too small to be slipping over either end of the shift lever, and I can see no way to take the top part os the shifter off, it looks like it's been molded together. I ask the "Professional Nissan mechanics" down at the dealed, but all I got was a blank stare (its a small town) and the factory shop manual gives you no hint. Has anyone out there ever changed one of these things without violence?