Is there another way to check a bellhousing alignment than with a dial indicator with the magnetic base or whatever? Because I'm pretty sure I don't have one here, so I'm hoping there is another way. It is a McLeod scattershield going on my 454/TKO-600. Thanks.

Tom Parsons aka DZ AUTO on this board, over in Mustang might be able to help, email him to ask.

Thanks. I will email him unless he sees this...have a feeling I may be emailing him a lot with my swap, lol.

Does anyone else have a suggestion? I'm hoping to get the engine on the hoist and put this together in a sec...thanks.

Well..a variation on it..I have done two of them without a mag base. Pep boys (and probably most other auto parts stores) carries a clutch alignment tool of sorts. In it is a steel rod approx. 12-18" long. The tool comes with several different aluminum plugs that thread onto the rod. Pick the right size plug for your pilot bearing, and it should fit in there snug, so there is no slop a the end of the rod. Theoretically the rod is now concentric with the crank, and you can mount a small dial indicator to sweep the BH bore as required. I paid $20 to pep boys to "rent" the tool..brought it back months later and got my money back in full! I had an issue with the plugs on my buddys car, seems they did not fit the pilot bushing too well. I took some measurements and had a couple pieces made by a friend with a machine shop, worked like a charm.

Good luck. Get it right before its in the car!!

Taylor
For what it's worth the McLeod Bellhousings (Scatter Shields) are manufactured to be within tolerance (.005") right out of the box. I measured mine to check it and it was at .002". Red at McLeod told me ALL of the housings are checked at time of manufacture and have a sticker on them to show you the measurement. Unless your block is machined way out of whack the McLeod should fit right with no problems. Lakewood on the other hand don't fit well at all and nearly always need offset dowels. If you want to verify this give Red a call at McLeod.
Jim