[Barry in St.Paul]

I'm 6'6" and my '30 coupe is still a tight fit, even though I cut off an inch from my package tray to compensate for the roll-down rear window I installed. The biggest issue is my right knee interfering with the gear-shift, which makes it tricky to do a quick change from accelerator to brake if I'm in 1st gear especially.
Was debating about pulling the gear shift and bending it several degrees to the right, but I had it nickel-plated at great expense, and don't want to ruin the finish. Has anyone successfully bent this, without heating and without cracking the finish? Seems like I might have to get a different gear shift, bend it, and have it plated (no use ruining this good one if I have to re-plate something anyway).
Thoughts?
thanks!
Barry