42rh reassembly-park rod trouble.

So had the valve body out of my A500/42RH to do the Transgo shift kit.

Trying to reinstall the valve body and the park rod. Can't seem to get the park rod to go all the way in. Whatever mechanism is at the back that the rod end has to pass through seems blocked, or for whatever reason I can't get the rod end past it.

Any tips here? Attached a couple pictures if that helps.