a 833 od shifting issues

i have created quit the "crossbread" car. i have a 74 plymouth duster with a78 engine 76 tranny 80 something belhousing and an original hurst shifter from a early 70's a body. i got this all bolted together and working well kinda.
If i adjust all the shift linkages the way i think they should be the car will go into every gear but takes ALOT to thow er in reverse. if i adjust the way my dad likes it it goes into reverse and 1st and 2nd but i have to fight it to get into 3rd and can hardly get it into 4th. Is it just that i am adjusting it wrong or that my shifter has seen better days. Or both?