Sounds like the ball on the bottom of the shifter where the cable attaches broke off or popped out of the socket. I'd pull the shifter assembly back apart and see if this happened. It's been listed before as a porblem by a few others.

Rick

The first Blown 3 Liter!
"Drive it till the wheels fall off" -my personal motto!!!!
98.5 T-Red SVT #6180
Many Mods
Buckshot77@aol.com
Owner of 00 #1611 Silver
Totalled on 10/7/01
SVT Parts for Sale