63 Dodge Dart, now let me see;)

Bending the shift rod may be the best solution. If you put more of a bend in it at the first bend from the shifter, won't that raise it up some? You have plenty of thread left on the adjustment, so hopefully it will work. Can you loosen up the shifter to shifter plate bolts, will the whole shifter scoot upwards any? If it does, I doubt it would get you enough room to connect the front of the rod.