Motor / Trans mounting help! (lots of questions....)

[LDO]

First let me apologize for the lack of pictures, my phone's picture gallery decided to stop working. I will update this thread as soon as it decides to start up again.

Here's what I have:
1966 C10
283 with a Saginaw 4 speed w/bench seat.
Still using the original (heavy) bellhousing and crossmember.
Motor mounts (67-72 mounts) are bolted to the frame using the rear bolt holes which I assume are at the 6cyl location. There are 3 holes on each side of the frame.
Z Bar pivot ball on the 283 is mounted to motor just below the oil dipstick.
Everything works fine and fits however, my shifter boot and ring are so far back, that 1/2 the ring is bent almost 90 degrees up along the hump.

Here's where I am going.
350 w/ Muncie 4 speed.
Bench Seat.
eliminate the shifter location issue.

So I started thinking. Is the jacked up location of my shift ring/boot a matter of engine location or the type of shifter I am using or both?

If I move the motor mounts to the forward position, that would move everything else forward as well.

So, this means I would not use the crossmember or original bellhousing correct?
And if that's the case, I would need to attach some type of crossmember to the tail end of the Muncie correct?
I would also need to lengthen the drive shaft as well.

Also, in order to retain the original frame mount location of the z bar bracket, would I mount the motor side ball pivot towards the rear of the motor? I see a threaded boss a few inches to the rear that looks like that's what it's for on the new 350.