ok yesterday, i dug my welder out from alongside my runner in the garage. (doing this kind of operation in a single car garage is great) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> i clamped the crack together and proceeded to weld the crack itself together and then i laid a blanket bead up in throughout the inside corner of that whole weak area. i grinded the back side that meets the firewall to be sure there would be no issues there. I pulled the m.c. and discovered an 1/8" of sediment in the bottom of the reservoir so i cleaned that out. then i reinstalled it and bled the heck out of the system using about 20 psi blown through the little breather hole in the cap of the reservoir. i put about a pint through that line before i finally closed the screw. after putting everything back together, i was relieved to hear reverse barely grind a couple of teeth before going into gear. I think my problem was a combo of air in the line and the cracked bracket. i still think there is a little issue with my tranny hence the slight grinding going into reverse and still not really wanting to go into gear unless rpms match road speed? at least the clutch disengages. hopefully i can deal with the tranny later when i have more time and $$$. Thanks for all your suggestions fols <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />