Sounds like you found the problem! So it was your input bearing retainer, sleeve where your throw out bearing slides on that is too long and causing your problem? I know on the Toploaders, the snout is approx 2 3/4", couple of things you can do is search out retainer with shorter snout or can machine the front nose down so no longer interferes with clutch disc's hub. Do you know approx. how much it is interfering with the disc, with the Toploaders, it is case hardened cast iron, can be machined down in a lathe using carbide bit, but don't know if bi-metal hacksaw blade would cut it. I suppose chop saw or grinder, but locating a correct shorter one would be better...... Regarding the clearance input shaft/pilot bearing/crank, it probably is OK. Easy enough to check: 1). with tranny removed, place flat bar, ruler across face of bellhousing. 2). measure from pilot bearing face to bottom of ruler (face of bellhousing to face of pilot bearing). 3). measure from tranny face (where it mates to bellhousing face), to end of input splines. 4). compare with measurement of 2). should be less, this will check that there is no issue with the pilot bearing/splines. 5). to see if snout of input shaft is bottoming out in the crank, use something like a sharpie felt pen marker, or round stock, dowel that is close to same size as input snout. Insert into pilot bearing bore till bottoms out, get measurement to outside face of pilot bearing. 6). compare with length of input snout, again, should be less than 5). regarding item 5). using something as close to same diameter as input snout, because the hole in the crank is drilled, you do not want to get a false reading from centre of drilled hole, as it would add 1/4" more. Drill bit is pointed so you want to get measurement taken from outside of a drilled hole, hope I make sense? There should be quite a bit of clearance as drilled hole in crank it really deep, figure you should have around 1" clearance. Like you discovered, I think your problem was/is too long input bearing retainer snout. Hope you locate a correct bearing retainer, perhaps someone will chime in regarding one.......good luck! David not that this is going to make any difference, but is your clutch disc installed with the flat part against the flywheel and protruded hub facing towards the tranny? should have marking or something stamped on the disc, like I mentioned, not going to make a difference, as your longer bearing retainer would still hit regardless of the disc..........
I have already fixed the retainers problem. I did cut it down to where it doesn't interfere anymore. I will have to check the input clearance just to be safe, thanks you very much
glad I could help, hope everything else goes along smoothly! Keep us posted on how things go! What was the final cut length of the input bearing retainer?? In case anyone else runs into this issue...... David
i don't remember for sure what the length ended up being.. if i don't find the problem and i have to pull the trans ill measure the length i had to cut it to and report it here! if i pull the trans I'm replacing the pilot and throwout bearing just to be safe, and avoid yet another tranny pull any time soon