Starter and Z-bar Binding! pics

I have a 67 dart gt with a 318 sitting on a 73 crossmember. I have a cast case overdrive 4 speed from an a body. The z bar i have looks just like every z bar i see on ebay for an a body. I am having to take about an inch or more off of the z bar for it to fit. I took the engine z-bar mount and cut the extension of from it. And took the z bar length down almost to the clutch arm on the bar. Is this normal I can see no other reason for this to be such an issue unless a i have the wrong z bar or it has something to do with the 73 crossmember. I know the angle is changed because of the late model bell housing and i am working with that but its still alot shorter. And one last thought my dad seems to think that my hurst shifter is supposed to have a set of bushings in it were the shift arms connect from to the shift rods at the base of the shifter. I ahve found these are available but can find no mention of them in any mopar specific info i have found. Thanks guys.