So, false alarm...sorta! I never noticed that dent in the door before but it's been there a long time. All good, just add it to the list...nothing I can do about it now. Keep an eye out for a door in a junk yard I guess!
So....I fixed the shifter...again! I decided to raise it up to the higher position. 24 hours later I'm really happy! The throw is definitely way longer but the gear changes require so much less effort between every shift...love it.

Putting plenty of miles on the car, almost ready for boost!