4 spd Installation tricks

The biggest problem I had was when I had my bearing retainer and bellhousing machined, the tolerance was so close that once I had the tranny up and in place it only allowed the bearing retainer to fit into the bellhousing a minimal amount. I removed the bellhousing chamfered the outside egde , then install and it went in a little farther, but did not full seat, so I used the bolts to pull the assembly together, and had not problems.....this was after I knew that everything else was lined up or engaged.....Generally putting transmissions in whether automatic or manual is a exersise in futillity.......... Good luck...and the long bolts as a guide method is what I have always used with great sucess........