John,
What was that little spacer thingy? A cork seal of sorts????
I chose not to run the needle bearing as I had one seize up on my 68 Cougar. Caught it just as the grease was hardening up.... But that was a daily driver...stop-n-go...but you got GREAT life out of it if yours was original!
I used a bronze oilite verion and machined it down to fit. I would only get about 1/2 of the width of the bearing for engagement with the input shaft.... (Mangusta)
Are you running a block plate between the bellhousing and the engine block?
Steve
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