Will GM 200r4 work with factory floor shift location?

Had time to do a little more work before shutting down. I figured since I had the console out I should go ahead and see if rod end above the floor would work. I made a cardboard template and figured I could use one of the existing bolts that hold the upper torque shaft in place. I basically built a heavy metal bracket to hold the rod end the correct distance from the shaft. I took the cotter pin and upper lever off the torque shaft then another cotter pin and installed the rod end. When you do this kind of stuff you have to make sure (very important) that you don't put the torque shaft in a bind. It takes a little time but when you get it just right the torque shaft will slide into the upper plastic bushing with ease. If you get the rod end a little off it throws the alignment off and the torque shaft won't move into the bushing freely. You don't want your shifter linkage in a bind!! I got mine so well aligned with the rod end that the torque shaft kept falling back down before I could get the upper lever installed. I plan on welding some gussets on the bracket tomorrow so that it doesn't flex when I shift gears. This upper rod end will allow me to cut the lower part of the torque shaft as short as necessary to clear the 2004R housing. Now I feel very confident about keeping the original shifter and linkage. I really didn't want to buy and install a cable shift and put more holes in my cuda. Enjoy the pics.... now all I have to do is wait for the reverse light switch. I ordered it today and it should be here in a week or so then I can put my console back in permanently leaving the wires accessible for when I install the tranny. The last two pics show the rod end installed backwards to I check and make sure that it was perfectly aligned with the torque shaft (very important). I used a straight edge along the threads of the rod end to make sure they were flush with the OD of the torque shaft. Once you get it aligned vertically and horizontally you're 75 percent there. The last piece is to get the rod end the correct distance from the bracket. Once you get it set perfect with no binding you can tack weld in some gussets and it will stay aligned forever. With a little luck I'll have pics of the finished rod end bracket tomorrow. I forgot, I'll have to put a spacer between the new bracket and the hump bracket to equal the space created by the original torque shaft brace (the one with the plastic bushing).

COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS???????

Treblig in Tex