On my '49 I shortened the shift lever by about half it's length,and greased and shimmed up all my linkage.I turned and finished a shift knob from a piece of 1-14" oak dowel.Problem solved,and it shifted so easy even my girlfriend could shift it.
Speed

1954 GMC 350
1957 GMC 1/2 ton
1962 Chevy C-30
1952 Chevy 6400 dump bed project truck
'98 Harley FLSTC
'66 Pontiac Catalina
'76 Chevy 1 ton Duallie
'84 Bronco II
'78 Dodge W-200
'81 Toyota 4X4 truck