4 spd Installation tricks

Hahaha. The best method IS the bench press method. I've never owned a vehicle with an automatic tranny so I've struggled and cursed, and damn near killed myself doing this since I put my first 4-speed back into a car when I was 16. That one being an aluminum Muncie...was a hell of a lot easier than A833s.
You are best off using an old input shaft for an alignment tool. They don't move at all when you are putting disc and PP together. I don't use the threaded bolt/rod method, because if the splines don't line up I prefer to just grunt it around and muscle it in. Also throwing that much weight onto the threaded holes of the bellhousing can cause severe damage if the retainer isn't seated. Besides this is an old "no-no" to a rehabbed GM guy like myself due to the mounting "ears" on the Muncie case that would easily break off, rendering your transmission unusable.
If you can't muscle it due to the weight...like my truck transmissions, I borrow a cheap transmission adapter that fits on a floor jack. They are inexpensive, and you just run a couple of chains across the trans to keep it from rolling off. It one rolls off on you, you won't be able to keep it from hitting the ground, which is bad news for the case, and god forbid, any fingers or hands in the way. Put some carpet on the bottom of the adapter so that it won't scratch your nice new cast paint job.
And just remember... when you are near exhaustion, greasy, sore, and at wits end. Think of me standing around nursing an ice cold beer laughing my *** off. That will give you the energy to reach down and get that last 1/8 inch you need no problem. :snakeman: