Trans Mount Poly Center Pin Bushings

I'm replacing the transmission mounts on my 73 MGB. When I install the the new "Prothane" poly center Pin Bushings thru the 2 brackets and place it down in the crossmember, it rests in the the new side mounts ,and the holes line up for the bolts that go into the transmission, BUT the bottom of the lower bracket is at least 1/2" inch away from the cross member. The only way to get the two bottom bolts started is to loosen and back off the center pin nut,if I tighten things up there seems to be extreem tension on the mounts and the bolt holes in the side mounts become misaligned. I have the small ends of the bushings facing each other, one down thru the hole in the top bracket and the other up thru the lower bracket, with the pin down from top and flat washer, lock washer and nut up from the bottom. Can anyone suggest what I may be doing wrong? Or is there a trick to this?

Bob,

There are 16 ways to assemble the brackets according to John Twist in his video and I think I tried all 16. The DPO had mine in backwards. It took several tries to figure out the proper orientation. One attempt resulted in what you are describing, with the center pin on a slight slant and the base well out of alignment..... I forced it and managed to ruin a bushing.

It sounds like you have the center pin right. I do remember the base being up slightly, but not as far as you describe. It pulled down to the crossmember when the bottom blts were tightened. It might be worth watching J.T.'s video to see if something is amiss. I also found the pictures in the Moss and VB catalogs helpful. Good luck!

Thanks Dave, I know what you mean by how many different ways you can turn those brackets. Thanks for adding the picture, I was going by the illustrations in the parts catalogs. Mine appears to be together the same way as the picture, I bought the car a little over a month ago and can't beleive the poor workmanship of the previous owner or so called mechanic. The mounts were jello, and the pin bushings gone. I'm thinking the upper bracket may be bent out of shape from driving it with the bad mounts, although the center holes are in good shape. I'll try it again tomorrow. Thanks again,
Bob