Purchased a short shifter for my ba xr8 5 speed (t5) and can not get it to fit. Have removed the old shifter and when compared side to side, the length of the shift rod bellow the mounting plate is quite longer on the new shifter (hope that made sense). Have tried fitting the new shifter to the car but once the ball on the end of the shifter is pushed onto the gearbox the base plate still sits up off the gearbox due to the extra length of the shift rod.

Is there a trick to fitting this or is it safe to say that i have been sent the wrong part. Was a cheap ebay special.

You were sent the right part. You purchased the wrong part. BA XR8 doesn't run a T5, but a Tremec TR3650.