duster pistol grip
I don't think you'd want to raise the shifter 2". First, I'm pretty sure it would hit the tunnel if you raised it that much. Then you'd need to fabricate new shift linkage, as the stock 4-speed shift rods wouldn't work. And the 71 B body bench handle already sits pretty high in the cabin on an A-body. Raising it two inches would mean you'd have to reach up to shift it. You'd have to go with the E-body handle if you raised the shifter any, unless you wanted your pistol grip to be as high as the steering wheel.
If the angle really bothers you that much, the easiest way to take care of it would be to weld a small pie shaped wedge into the shift handle right above were it mounts into the shifter. The "fix" would stay covered by the shift boot, and if you kept the upper part of the handle cool with a wet rag while welding you wouldn't even need to rechrome the handle.
But seriously, the angle isn't that significant. And as far as "oriented as intended", that handle, or any pistol grip handle for that matter, was never intended to be in an A-body so I don't see how it matters. I personally think the handle works very well just as it is. I actually like the angle of how it sits, and it shifts well.
Same handle in a '71 Roadrunner
Stock E-body handle. More angle than any of them, and that's factory.
I don't think you'd want to raise the shifter 2". First, I'm pretty sure it would hit the tunnel if you raised it that much. Then you'd need to fabricate new shift linkage, as the stock 4-speed shift rods wouldn't work. And the 71 B body bench handle already sits pretty high in the cabin on an A-body. Raising it two inches would mean you'd have to reach up to shift it. You'd have to go with the E-body handle if you raised the shifter any, unless you wanted your pistol grip to be as high as the steering wheel.
If the angle really bothers you that much, the easiest way to take care of it would be to weld a small pie shaped wedge into the shift handle right above were it mounts into the shifter. The "fix" would stay covered by the shift boot, and if you kept the upper part of the handle cool with a wet rag while welding you wouldn't even need to rechrome the handle.
But seriously, the angle isn't that significant. And as far as "oriented as intended", that handle, or any pistol grip handle for that matter, was never intended to be in an A-body so I don't see how it matters. I personally think the handle works very well just as it is. I actually like the angle of how it sits, and it shifts well.
Same handle in a '71 Roadrunner
Stock E-body handle. More angle than any of them, and that's factory.