So Morris, where do ya get one of them thar fancy bushins'? That seems like a good idea, but I've just been buying the standard bushing from NAPA.
I've basically resigned myself to the short input shaft setup with no space plate, but am having a hard time figuring out what to so with the rear cross brace mount. It was welded in for a 3550, Ford bell, and 5/8" spacer plate. Some have said slot the holes on the cross brace, but if I measure correctly the mount holes actually need to be too far forward and would actually be half on the brace, and half off.
Couple of thoughts that come to mind are:
1. Cut off the brace and re-weld it in the correct position - but, don't have a cutting torch, have a MIG welder I bought on a whim, but have never welded anything in my life
2. Can I somehow pull the engine back toward the tranny 1/4" or so by widening the motor mount slots a bit. Then move the brace holes as far forward as possible and try to make the combination of the two be enough for a fit
3. Figure out some kind of fixture that can adapt between the cross brace holes and tranny mount and the bolt holes on the tranny rear housing. I have something like this from Forte's ie a slotted aluminum plate, but it doesn't appear that it will work for the amount of distance I need to adjust - one setup is too small, and the other is too big and for it to be correct I'd end up with bolt heads overlapping each other.
Appreciate any ideas. Here's some pics of the mount situation
Thanks!