Z-Bar alignment issues

That ball stud bracket looks suspect to me Bob. It looks like the ball is too close to the bolts.
View attachment 1716433268

I agree, my bell ball mount is different from your picture, but mine is the same one pictured for 273 small block on Brewer's site:

https://www.brewersperformance.com/...-ballstud-bracket-1964-66-a-body-small-block/