Thanks Rick, I was thinking of you while cutting the carpet and discovering the opening needed to be moved forward.
Thanks Ryan, it really wasn’t too bad and after all the trouble to convert the truck, fighting the shifter when it’s all done just can’t happen!
Tightened up the linkage (added bushings, wavy washer, etc.) and then some Blue Loctite seems to have done the trick for the pivot bolt backing out problem. 2nd pic is with the shifter all the way back in the 4Hi position.