The centerlink should be pushed up to the pitman arm, but resting on top of the idler arm. You probably have the idler arm upside down. If the nut threads onto the idler from the bottom it is wrong. The nut should be put on from above the idler. To clarify even more, if you have the hood open looking down, you should see the nut on top of the idler arm first. The order of operations, set the idler side on the centerlink on top of the idler arm, let gravity hold it in place, hold the pitman side of the centerlink up to the pitman arm and bolt it up. Then bolt up the idler side. I hope that is clear enough. Good luck.
added:
I see you swapped for V-8 stuff. If you had I6 stuff earlier and reused the I6 idler you might be having a problem there. The power steering idler for I6 should be the same, the manual I6 was different.
