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If there is no up-and-down play, you can probably leave out the upper bearing retainer (hard-rubber ring that wraps around the upper bearing). If it is slipping out of park, you should replace the shift lever as it will have a groove cut into it. You'll need to drill or punch out the roll pin that holds it in with the right punch and some WD-40.
At the same time, get the lower shift column retainer. It comes as a round blade rubber seal with a small rectangular boss at one side. Look in your engine compartment at the end of the shift column and see if the triangular space is empty. It likely is. This boss with fit in there once the seal is home. Since these were installed when the shift lever was off, you'll cut the ring through the boss with a razor knife, slip the ring around the steering shaft and fit it in the space between the steering column and shift column. This makes a world of difference.
If you get the parts from the Bird Nest, it includes good details instructions. The OEM manual is useless and doesn't even mention the part.
If it still slips out of park, the shift detent plate (a small toothed crescent at the top of the column) is likely worn, but mine was fine. It was the shift level that was worn. To get at this, you'll need to take off the steering wheel, and upper hub (that has the shift indicator PRNDL attached to it). This takes the patience and time I was alluding to. Your friend can do it, but just make sure you get as much slack in the wiring as possible. Ford gave zero slack here.
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