Shifter slop

Sideways ? I thought I was offering another angle.. I had to grind an 1/8th inch off the bottom 2 inches front to back off the aftermarket pistol grip to get it to fit. I prefer the bolt as I can change shifters.
That's what I'm talking about. I weld mine. You made a spacer. Either way you make the stick fit the shifter.

I have no idea when this went sideways. I don't remember any stick not fitting the shifter before the 1990's and by then I was using a vertigate.

Always something.