Steering column lower bushing - stumped

[mtl911sc]

I'm stumped or stupid, probably both...

Removed my steering column bushing with the typical perished bearing from inside the smuggler's box. Bought the upgraded Rennline billet aluminum bushing from our host, thinking I was smart (only afterwards realizing that I could've simply replaced the bearing inside for a few dollars instead). Oh well, old bushing was already in the trash and out the door 🙄

I've had a helluva time trying to install the new bushing, it just won't allow the allen bolts to line up with the threaded mounting sleeves in the smuggler's box.

So at first I figured the bushing is sized too big for my mounting bracket, and that I wasted my money. But before ordering the OEM rubber part I decided to test-mount the bracket WITHOUT any bushing at all... AND IT STILL DOESN'T LINE UP PROPERLY to allow me to thread in the allen bolts! What the hell??!

Is there some sort of technique or trick to mounting this bracket on the bushing that I'm not aware of? I'm really hoping that I don't have to remove the AC box assembly and disconnect the hard lines. And even if I do will I still have the same problem?

Thanks