I managed to put the trans up behind the engine.
Four of six bolts line up, which I knew.
Input appears to fit into the crank without bottoming the splines, a good thing.
Will have to check the pilot depth.
I do have the Merkur bell, in fact I have two, from the two T9's I have.
Cable operated clutch, so I will want to change that.
So far it looks like I may be on the right track with my idea of a small adapter plate to pick up the top holes from the Merkur bell.
Looking at the bell revealed the secret of the 2.3/Lima blocks, they have an EXTRA set of top mounting points!
Instead of the six mounting holes expected they have eight.
The standard set that match the Kent and earlier EnFo's plus two more about 1.25" higher up.
Merkur's use the top pair of mounting holes, Kents match the lower set.
In looking at my Merkur bell closely there is a shadow from the unused Kent pattern mounting point holes.
So it looks like a simple four-hole 3/8" thick plate may get me there.
Cut the top of the bell back 3/8".
Make the simple plate with two countersunk mounting holes using the top Kent mount points, and two more above threaded to pick up the Merkur bell mounting points.
No welding on an aluminum casting, just some simple milling.
I did find an engineering drawing for the Kent engine pattern, I should be able to find one for the newer 2.3/Lima as well.
I also need to determine if a sheet-metal dust cover plate is needed for correct distance.
Input to crank pic.
Upper Merkur mount is too high on the kent block.
The bright spots which witness the redundant Kent mounting points on the Lima 2.3 block.
The portion I would cut back and fit a spacer to.