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saws-all success! Shifter install complete and works great. Except, I can't get into first or reverse unless I loosen the shift-lever bolt. Time to get under the car and replace those bushings.
Before changing bushings, inspect them from underneath and check rotational play. If there's just a tiny bit, you don't need to replace.
I say this because I recently installed the Lizard short shifter on my 84 and it works fine after adjusting the coupler. My existing bushings have a tiny bit of fore-aft play and pretty much zero rotational play.