I got it! I massaged it to about 1/2" gap between the trans and bellhousing. I threaded in the bolts and slowly started drawing it together, alternating between bolts so I didn't bring in one corner before another.

All mounted! Thank you all for your suggestions!

 

Don't waste your time doing this. Take 4 - 7/16" NC x 4 inch bolts, cut the heads off and chamfer the ends, then cut a slot in the cut end that can be used to unscrew them with a flat head screw driver. Put two studs on each side in the bell housing mounting bolts in back of the engine. Use these to align the engine to the transmission when you drop it in place. Once you have all four into the matching holes in the bellhousing, simply shove the engine onto the bell housing. I've installed a half dozen engines like this in two different vehicles by myself (yes, alone) I used old long small block head bolts to make these alignment studs. You can also use them to align the transmission to the bell housing.

 

Sorry to revive an old thread.

Johnkimble- Did you notice your motor perches being not even? I have a 1974 F100 4x4 and a FE428 and am noticing the engine sits tilted lower toward the driver side. I just want to confirm with other owners that this is indeed a common thing Ford did. Thanks!

 

I did not notice the perches being uneven. The engine is definitely level left to right. How off are your perches? Do you have a thread going on your build?

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...gine-tilt.html
here are some pictures from a thread I started.