NP made the 1971 and later side NP833 trannys covers and shifter forks and rooster combs different from 1964 to 1970. Early covers are steel or iron with brass shift forks and the 1971 and later covers are aluminum with steel shift forks that have tapered nipples that are a real bear to get into the spring loaded scissor shifter mechanisms
Make sure there is no preload on the drive shaft when trying to move the shifter levers on the side covers, NONE
Good luck, let us know what you find and do to correct it