Shifter and general carpet questions

[428street]

I am getting very close....!!!

I completed cutting the holes for the shifter and ash tray with relative ease. I dry fit many times so I would not make a mistake and it came out great.

I ran into a puzzle when trying to put the shift lever into the boot. The shifter I have (ERA replica of the original one) has a rectangle end that bolts onto the tranny and has the reverse lever (non-functional) on the top end of the shifter. I unscrewed the actual shift knob and retaining bolt underneath but I can not figure out how the damn reverse lever comes apart. I need to take this apart to get the SL into the boot.

Also, I am starting to dry fit the carpet. It appears that the finished seam is what I need to take my cue from and fit the carpet to the top of the body line. The bottom part of the carpet is unfinished and appears it needs to be trimmed. I am talking here about the front foot boxes. How much should overlap in general from the bottom angle to the floor? To the right and left of the foot box (tunnel area) the carpet needs a bunch of trimming. Is this normal as the pieces I received are off by inches.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.