You have a really common problem - someone put a four speed floor shift kit on your old three speed

I've seen loads like this tho not in 20 years or so . it'll be fine , consider it anti-theft .

that center D/S bearing was prolly rattling for 10 years and you're just the lucky one who gets to fix it .

-Nate
There is no problem so difficult it cannot be overcome by generous application of brute force & ignorance