55 Chevy pickup shifting problem

I'm looking at a 55 p.u. that was changed from a 6 cyl. to 283 with the column shift 3-speed. The shift rods are connected directly to the levers on the column. When driving, 1st gear is in normal position. 2nd is where 3rd sould be. 3rd id where reverse sould be and reverse is where 2nd should be. Is there a something missing that would make it shift properly? I want to keep the 3 on the tree. Thanks!

 

from the 1955 chevy truck second series assembly manual

What direction do your shift arms go on the transmission? are they both going down? Later 50s trucks used two long rods, with no bellcrank.

 

They look like the munual photo. One up and one down. Thank you squirrel.

 

If you have no bellcrank, then you need to have both the transmission levers going the same direction.