Not only do you need the 73+ motor mount bar, but also the mounting hardware. That includes the solid outer mounts, the rubber inner mounts, and the harware that fastens those inner mounts to the crankcase.
I was able to remove and replace the front shift rod of a side-shifter-converted 72 without moving the motor at all. Also without hitting anything inside the center tunnel. (Though the car had been converted and "hacked" a bit before I ever saw it.) I have no clue what the problem could be.
--DD
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Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support
A few pics of my car:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling