No, not at all. The column remains the same. As CK mentioned, you add a bracket to the trans to accommodate the shift cable. Then add a linkage arm to the existing shift arm/ pivot. It's pretty easy. I'm sure there's some pics on the site somewhere showing you what it looks like.
In fact, if you don't mind the appearance being off, you could remove that large chrome shift arm off the existing column. You'd have the little tabs on the collar and the hole where the lever arm entered, but, aside from that you could actually just USE the column shift column.
I had used a Hurst ratchet shifter in my car formerly. I didn't use the extra add-on lever in this case. I locked the column in the park position and used the cable directly to the shift lever arm. To be able to use the neutral safety switch and backup lights, I had to splice into the neutral safety lead and the backup light circuit. The shifter uses two micro switches that are individually wired inline to each circuit. I have since gone back with a stock factory floor shift using the column wired neutral switch and backup functions.
That would have been an excellent score. Repainting it is the least of your problem.
