brake pedal too high

Ok, so you just replaced the master cylinder and that is the result? Id say you may have found the problem being only the MC and not the length of the pushrod. I converted two power brake cars (one drum and one disc) over to manual and just used the same MC bolted directly to the firewall. They are both the same as in your posted pic. Maybe that MC is for a power application and the snap ring style is for manual????