So I flipped it around and it made it worse.  You can't even get 1st gear.  It's either bent from being moved around with a tractor by the previous owner or just the '86 shifter doesn't fit right in the 1st gen proportions.  No biggie because I have to loose the fat shift stick to use the boot I want anyway.  I'm going to lop off the stick and weld the early one on it with a little sleeve.