[STEVE POTTS]

My mind was racing all night. This morning I sat down next to the engine and trans. and started measuring diameters and lengths of the trans., bell, pilot bearing etc. for the 5th time.

Here is what I discovered. The bearing retainer is too long and it is hitting the clutch disc hub. The bearing retainer is 4.48" long. I measured this distance from the trans. mounting surface to the end of the retainer. However, the distance from the bellhousing face to the clutch disc hub is only 4.20". The trans. cannot physically be mounted all the way home.

I ordered this trans. with the short input shaft specifically for an FE engine. I have a suspicion that a shorter bearing retainer is supposed to be used along with the shorter input shaft. It appears that the standard length bearing retainer was installed instead. I'm going to try and call Keisler today to verify this.

Thanks to all that responded with an effort to help.

Steve