on my rear shift car, upon removal of the shifter, we found a small aluminum blcok, drilled toand attached to the shift plate (the part the shift lever pivots on in the tunnel) this moves the bushing bracket forward, and down inthe tunnel. Don't know why this modification was made, andyone seem this before?

short shift kit?

by extending the lever below the pivot, you need less throw on the top of the lever to move the rod the same amount ...
Andy

that might be it, I figure no other reason for it being there, and that is certainly what it looks like it does.