Overdrive 4 speed linkage

I have an issue with my 65 dart 318 4 speed. i put in a overdrive transmission about 10 years ago and had to modify the z bar by making it longer so the clutch fork and the z bar would meet up. The issue I was having was the clutch fork does not sit centered in the overdrive bell housing opening . it is almost to the bottom of the bell housing with the transmission installed. Because I lengthened the z bar the pedal is really hard to push down and I am tired of pushing so damn hard. I had to extent the z bar i believe by 1 1/2 inches it get all the linkage to line up properly. Has anyone else experienced this before. What was the solution. I used the clutch fork bracket from brewers an 12 1/2 inch clutch fork and an adapter brewers makes that mounts to the bell housing so the z bar sits level with the z bar mounted to the bracket on the body.