Broken Motor Mounts (not!)

[Larry C Leung]

Hello Listers

Still trying to diagnose this. (patient is a type 44TQ, '89 200)

Symptoms - Drove over a rough road (grass and stone) at parking lot
speeds to park yesterday.
	After the event I attended, clutch did not dis-engage completely,
	hence:			
		1) Could not get into first without shutting off engine
		2) VERY difficult to shift, acted like a broken clutch
		3) car would creep when a gear was engaged.
		4) clutch pedal felt fine

			Thought clutch hydraulics were gone (though could
				not rationalize the good pedal)

		Then, after about a 3 minute slow to moderate drive in 2nd and 3rd, no
stops,
		car would shift stiffly, clutch worked. 

		1)shift lever very sloppy (though works, and all gates are present
			and accounted for). 

			Now thought a motor or transmission mount broke on 
				the dirt, possibly temporarily jamming clutch,
				explaining slopply lever. On hindsight, a 
				broken mount will NOT affect an hydraulic
				clutch, unlike my GTi.	

So far I have:

1) Brake fluid reservior checks full. 
2)Visually and palpitably checked the motor and transmission mounts. Heat
shield on the exhaust side mount is intact. 
3) jacked up the engine and transmission about 2" to see which, if any
mounts
	separated. Good sign, car lifted up under the engine jacking.
4) All 4(?) mounts visually and palpitate okay, IOW, no separation at the
mounts. 
5) Started car, ran front wheels against a curb (gently). Attempted to
climb curb (not gonna do it, just to observe the gearshift lever for
excess side to side motion), no motion noted at the gearshift. 
6) opened hood, reved engine. It rocks at most about 1 - 2 inches (about
visually 5 to 10 degrees). 

I'd say the mounts are good, list opinion?

Question - What is causing the stiff shifting and sloppy gear lever?

Any help appreciated.

TIA,

LL - NY