I'm using a lakewood bellhousing and adjustable pivot ball. How are you supposed to know where to set the pivot while installing the trans? If I have to adjust the pivot ball, then it all has to come apart...
I do think that I had the threaded rod on the wrong side of the zbar. Maybe now that it's on the other side, the angle won't be as severe and it won't have a tendency to bend. Also, I have linkage kits for both small block and big block - I was using the small block z-bar because the big block one was about 3/4" longer and wouldn't fit between the ball stud and the frame bracket. Even then I had to shim the bracket 1/2" to get it to fit. The big block z-bar puts the rod closer to the fork, so I'm using that and put another 3/4" worth of shims on the bracket to get it to fit! I have an Alston front subframe, so maybe it's different enough to cause the clearance issue. That and because the 502 engine block is not tapped for the pivot ball stud, so I had to get a bracket that pushes it out another 1/4".
I got it around the block! It was ugly since the throwout bearing wouldn't disengage all the way, but I had to since I was already half into the street!