Rusty Feathers (1967 Firebird)

[Jeff_R]

So, while installing the engine/transmission, something happened.

In order to slide everything in place with the transmission crossmember in, I needed to undo the bolts for the subframe and lift the body to clear the shifter stub. So I literally had every jack I own under the car in use; engine hoist, floor jack (lifting the body), and a transmission jack (to lift the transmission to clear the crossmember).



We finally got everything in place, the body lowered and Jackson was tightening the last bolt for the transmission mount when he asks "what is this bearing to?"... WHAT?!?!?!?!



After 20 minutes of panic, and checking... I compared it to an old input bushing (as seen above), I compared it to old transmissions, and I compared it to the clutch installation tool... I could not figure out how the input bearing, which is inside the engine and captured by the crankshaft and the input shaft of the transmission could end up laying on the garage floor. It was close to the same dimensions, but not quite.

I finally checked the underside of the transmission jack... turns out the bearing fell of the threaded portion...

Now I can laugh at the story, at the time, not so much.