Wasted yesterday afternoon waiting for Daytona. Should have been working on the bug, but that's life. Had a couple hours after work tonight so I decided to get the front and rear mounts sorted out. No big deal on the front mount I found a 15mm head nut to go on the 10mm nosecone studs so that issue was resolved painlessly. The back mount was a different story.
You may recall last fall Chuck Spence stopped by and pointed out to me that before I did anything else with the car, I better straighten out the rear trans carrier bracket and find out "Why it was so*&^% up".
Being a novice, I didn't see it or even appreciate what was wrong. It was as if the whole car was dropped on something with the transmission case taking the brunt of the hit.
Here's what Chuck pointed out to me last year. You can see how the bottom of the carrier bracket between the two big bolts is bent upward. It's supposed to be straight across. You can also see how this caused the two rear rubber mounts to separate from the bolts and housing holding them to the carrier.
You can really see how bent it was here after I got it out.
After I pounded it all back into shape, I thought it would fit no problem, but tonight I encountered this.
I thought the main forks were bent, but I realized even with a pry bar that wan't the case.
I kept measuring, but kept getting frustrated.
After searching the samba, I discovered there is a sequence to follow when tightening down all the bolts on all the mounts. First the front mont bolts get tightened, then the two big main carrier bolts, then the outer two rear mont bolts and lastly the nuts inside the transmission bell housing. When I raised the tranny one inch and followed the tightening procedure, it all came together.
You can see how that carrier is now straight at the bottom.
Here's the new front mount all bolted in and tight.
So I still have to connect the coupler inside the car, but this part all came together tight and fits nice.
Here's a couple Q's for you experts.
I changed the starter bushing and I'm not sure if i have it pounded in right. Does it come back more or sit right here? It's flush on the other side.
Another shot.
I've also got to learn how to replace this throwout bearing. I read a lot of complaints about clips coming loose or people having to add wire to hold them. I'm going to get a new German bearing and I've got new clips from WW. Now I've got to learn how to replace it!
The good news is I can fix them right next year since all this "new" rubber is so crappy they'll be falling apart by then! 
