When I replaced mine almost thirty years ago, I bought a generic off-the-shelf "universal" rod that was pretty much as you describe.
I honestly can't remember exactly what the original looked like, but I'm pretty sure that the fit was much better, even without a bushing because the size of the opening in the original rod was much closer in size to it's attaching point than the new one. And I think it might even have been round. What's your original one look like marty? Did you say it's got the same shape hole as the new one? If so, guess my memory is fading on that point. But I know for a fact that the old one did fit better than the new one did.
Maybe the flat edge gives it less slop, or just makes it thicker so that, even though there's less stress at that point, might make it less prone to cracking at it's thin edge? Dunno.
So my new one was different enough, but in my case I was able to make a passable bushing from stuff I found in Dad's stuff laying around the garage.
Seems to me I found some kind of grommet-looking thingy with a metal sleeve molded in and "made" it fit. Gotta' love those Depression-era hoarders!
I fully expected it to squeeze or crush out of the rod, but it stayed in all these years.
Hmm, the engine is out, but I think my linkage is still in the truck. I'll take a look-see tomorrow and see if it's just like my memory tells me, or what. I still have the original too, but it's pretty deeply buried in there somewhere. I'd be curious to hear what yours is like though.
In my case, the memory all by itself just ain't gonna' cut it.
Just to check, LMC Truck has this picture on page 61 of their cat.
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fbr/full.aspx?Page=61
Can't tell at this resolution, but the picture at least, looks like a round hole and is showing two washer-like thingies in that location. Wonder if they had "shoulders" on them that acted like a bushing? Not doubting you Revelation, but maybe they had something like spacers that kept the movement to a minimum. Mine didn't, but for all I know they were worn out by then. Like all my other plastic bushings (brake and clutch pedals, tire carrier, etc.) were.
You might call LMC marty, to see if the one they're selling is just like the other's with the flat side, or has a round hole.
Probably worth at least one phone call.
Paul
