RE: trottle too close, I'm lost
So what is that clevis running into? the firewall?
No law says you can't drill a bigger hole into the firewall that will allow the clevis room. I'm suggesting that because I figure you want to do the least re-engineering of what you've already "built".
Otherwise, I'd go with Mike on the e-z connector, but you'll probably have to move the pushrod to the side then.