"Ron Webb" wrote in message
...

But the one dimension that must be DEAD accurate is the position of the
center of the crank relative to the dowel pins.. Neither suggestion is
going
to solve this one without taking the engine apart. I am working on a new
aluminum Ford 4.6L V8 short block, so the entire lower end is already in
place.

I'm thinking of a jig for this. Insert something in the back of the crank
which will extend the centerline of the shaft past the plane of the dowel
pins. Something like the alignment spuds used to center a clutch plate.

Make a block with a hole in it to slip over the crank extension. This block
should have adjustable arms on it (equal to the number of dowels in the bell
housing. Those arms could be slotted like the arms on an engine stand.
Assemble the whole mess so that the ends of the arms are located on the
dowels and tighten it down. Slip it back off the crank extension and you
have a pattern. For one-time use, you could just weld it together from
scrap.

Wish I could draw it with a pencil.

Rich S.