Hi Jim,
I don't have a solid answer for the cause of your sloppy shifting but let me interject that you need to be VERY careful considering the Focus tower regarding your cable ends. If you have the skinny, round-end cable I don't think there is a way to mate that style cable to the Focus tower. Similar to the problem SVTPETE had trying this swap, I'm currently finding out I'm in the same boat as he was and will have to switch back to the stock tower this weekend.
Basically, the Focus cable ends are needed because the Focus tower has much fatter nipples
on the selector linkage than the stock tower. But....on the cable side, the Focus ends are too large to properly retain the cables. I fit the Focus ends on my stock skinny cables with the spring-loaded orange clamp device but the cables pulled out just by me working the shifter while the car was on jackstands. If your stock cables are the type that has the fat, square end you should be golden for the Focus tower swap. My car is an E0.
Randy
