Thanks Guys ! Its a 428.
Well in that case you have someones' conversion bushing/sleeve in order to take the crankshaft recess bore from the 1.850" down to the outer shell O.D. dimension for the bearing as the roller bearing was not utilized in FE's (to the best of my knowledge anyway!), so this injects additional concerns for proper fitment as you've just added another "new" engineer into the mix.
But proper positioning of this still shouldn't be difficult to establish with relatively simple measurement comparisons of the depth from the back of the bellhousing (that surface which the face of the transmission butts again as installed) as bolted up to the back of the block (bellhousing) inward to the bearing face, this as compared to the measured distance from the face of the transmission (were it butts up to the bellhousing as installed) to the end of the input-shafts' clutch disc splines and then to the end of the pilot shaft section, these dimensional comparisons will provide for were the relationship would be.
As far as the roller bearing (a good one!
) being unreliable, well I think if one just reviews what has been being installed in O.E.M. production vehicles since the early '80's, ..............I don't think you'll find any "sintered bronze bushings" having been used! If you do choose to utilize the bronze unit, do be sure to check for any excessive misalignment in the transmission to engine crankshaft (you should anyway!), as the bronze is less tolerant of this causing greater drag on the input shaft and this in turn causes a premature wear rate and loss of material in the bushing and a failure in function of its' duty of positively locate the input shaft this causing potential trans. shifting/gear engagement difficulties and excessive wear, even damage, this particularly noted at the intermediate bearing juncture;)!
Bronze has been the standard since Fred Flintstones been driving.....time tested and proven
And exactly why it was replaced by the roller bearing unit! And, most failure instances with the roller bearings is resultant from improper installation procedures, this as far as I have witnessed anyway.
Scott.