shift rod to engine bar clearance problems, tailshift to sideshift conversion Options

[mightyohm]

My car is a 72 with a sideshift conversion (done long before I bought the car). The engine mount bar originally had the ends chopped down to raise the motor, apparently so that the shift rod would clear the bar in 4th/5th gear. I need to lower the motor to get my 2.0L airbox to fit, so I am putting in a stock engine mount bar, and now the shift rod rubs a little bit when I try to shift into 4th or 5th.

Do the tailshift cars have the shift rod up higher on the firewall than sideshift cars? I had never heard that before but bondo says he thinks he has heard of this issue before. I can't imagine that I am the only person to run into this clearance issue if this is true.

I managed to bend the rod a bit by pulling down on it but I'd like to get a little more clearance. I'm not sure how easy it will be to bend the shift rod more without making a jig to keep the ends in the right alignment. Has anyone done this before?

[rhodyguy]

huh..the late style rubber mounts have a squared portion of the threaded shaft where they fit into the engine to bar brackets. the inboard rubber mounts are the same thickness no matter what orientation you have them in. the squared portion locks the mount to the bracket so you can tighten the top nut. if you don't have the correct brackets that could be your prob too. rear rod goes thru the large hole in the mount bar. you need all the correct items to make the conversion work smoothly. the solid outboard mounts are pretty cheap @ the bird. why mess with used ones that are more often than not all bent up, with wallowed out holes? they can cock the bar. i like new when ever i can afford it. the less hassles the better.