833 Shift Pattern

If the reverse arm on the shifter is not long enough with the lever on the tranny pointing up (as it should) the shift rod will not clear the tranny cross member, flipping the lever over so it points down will give you some clearance (at the expensive the backwards reverse position). This is likely why the PO said it's the wrong shifter.

Go ahead and flip the lever as Bob said but you may not be able connect the rod.

As far as the handle hitting your leg and the seat you can always take it off the shifter and do a little customizing (i.e., put it in a vice and bend it). Jus make sure you do your tweaking below the boot so any marks or flacked chrome won't show. I don't have the correct handle on my shifter either. I have tried three different ones and wound up with a big long one from a pick-up shifter and cut 6" off the bottom and put a bend in it so it sits to the passenger side and forward to clear my seat and leg.