["QUICK-SILVER"]

Going out on a limb here, but what about using cables.
GM front wheel drive, late 80ish anyway, had two heavy duty cables on floor shifters. One to the transmission and one to the column under the dash. The one to the column, twisted the tube like 69 up, worked shift indicator, column & shifter lock, neutral safety & back-up light switch.
The OE mechanical linkage, from column to transmission, has always been a problem with headers, on just about any body style.
If you can get cables and mounting bracket ends from a front wheel drive clunker, for free or dirt cheap. You could try to fab up a column mount cable shift. If you get it rigged up right, shifter would work like factory.

Might could fab up an L shaped swivel, mounted with a couple of bell housing bolts. Use a rod from the column to it and then another rod from the swivel back to transmission lever.

Neither one will be plum simple, but not that difficult either.

It'ld be neat on a thumpin big car with column shift all intact.
Something to think about anyway. Or not.