Steering Column Support

In the process of reassembing my project car I learned something the hardway. The last step of completing my column installation was to reinstall the chrome bezel that fits up against the dash. When I did this there was about a 3/4 inch exposed hole above the bezel. I quess I never noticed this when the car was on the road since it was kind of a beater. Since I was reassembling the parts that I removed from the car I did not know why this occurred. I checked on another project car I have and saw the the bezel fit properly. What I have found out is that for some reason the steering column support at the dash on the problem car is about an inch longer than on my other two cars. I took one of the short supports and replaced the long bracket, however this resulted in my shift linkage barely clearing the instrument bezel. I will have to make a spacer to shim the short bracket in order to make it work. I would just like to know the reason for the long and short brackets. I thought maybe this was a dealer installed thing to provide a different steering wheel position for some drivers that needed it. The problem car is a 51 Super 6 and the other two cars are 1952 Hornet Hollywood and Wasp. Any insight are appreciated.