I myself dont know much if really anything about the Richmond trannys so I thought I would post a problem that one of our club members here is having with i9nstalling his. any ideas as to what has to be done???
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From: Howard Fancher <hfancher@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 06:52:20 +0000
To: PACE69HI@hawaii.rr.com

Fellow Hawaii Island Camaro Club Members,
I am Howard Fancher and I have the White 67 with red and blue pinstripes. I
am asking for some mechanical information/advice. I just bought a Richmond
gear 5 speed to install in my Camaro. I have checked all measurements to
compare with the 4 speed I removed. I have a Lakewood bellhousing. I
installed a new bronze pilot bushing, Centerforce 2 clutch,pressure plate
and throw out bearing. I have been working for 3 days and can't get the
trans all the way into the bellhousing. The T/O bearing is aligned and
moves freely. I have taken the whole assembly apart and rechecked all
measurements and I can get the trans to within 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch from
the bellhousing but no further. I have 2 dowel pins installed in the
bellhousing to aid in alignment and a 3 way adjustable transmission jack,
but am having no luck. I even tried pushing in the clutch only to have the
clutch plate fall and had to remove everything and start over. I THINK the
problem is that the trans is not aligned with the pilot bearing. But 3 days
and lots of #%^&&*(**&^%$##@@ later, I'm still 1/2 to 3/4 inch away from
completing this task. Still have the crossmember and driveshaft to go!!!

Would greatly appreciate any advice from my fellow Camaro owners.

Thank You for your time,
Howard Fancher
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Mahalo folks

I was just coming here to post the same thing with a paste. I hope it's not the centerforce and throw-out bearing. I'm not sure if taking the possible adjustment's out of the clutch would end up helping. I think some have put stuff on in reverse. We shall see and hopefully have a new Team Camaro member.

If this was me, I'd place side-by-side, the b/h bolted to trans on both and check fit/length of both. Check shaft length, spline length, bearing retainer length, and pilot shaft diameter.

It could be either the b/h too short, input shaft too long, splines too short, brg retainer too long, or, tongue in the wrong corner of the mouth and not enough gear lube in the eyes.......