904/B & M floor shifter

Sorry I missed this one Fastmopar or I would have tried to help. I'm sure you know by now torqueflites are a much better valve body design than GM's that have check balls that fall out when you take it apart. If you haven't already got it together I'd put in a new shift shaft seal just to be safe. It's easy to change with the valve body out and good insurance that you don't have to take it apart again.

Usually the detent rod can be pulled out with little effort so you don't have to fight with the e-clip. Try pulling the rod out and see what happens.