3 on tree / a903

I will say this. When I got the car in July the dash is crushed in badly where the shifter hits it in reverse. Reverse gear always touches the dashboard plus sometimes those screws adjust that ? And the screw in the slotted hole was very loose when o got the car I tightene it down snug I loosened it today to get and get this all working snd I’m stuck . Ant Posistion I that slot a good place to start ?