Do you have a 3spd or 4spd? With the V8 conversion, and the engine in the rearward position the shifter will exit just in front of the seat. Yours appears to have the engine forward allowing the shifter to exit midway of the transmission cover panel. Your idea of fabricating the shifter/stick will work, but it might make the shifter more sloppy. I just went thru this with a "cheap" 4spd shifter. I purchased a used "namebrand" shifter and it eliminated all the slop and long throws.
