The hole in the fender well is pre drilled on every carthere is usually a rubber plug in the hole. But the brace on the fender well is only welded in on manual shift cars.
To me it looks like you have a 68-71 bell housing bracket with ball on a 1972-1976 bell housing. That would cause the problem you are having.
68-71 Bracket
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72 -76 bracket
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You need to determine what year bell housing you have. The cars fender well holes are all pre drilled at the same location