Transmission installation is being a pain

[RedlineRacer]

I am changing my clutch today and the removal was a piece of cake, but the installation is a pain. I got the clutch bolted in and ready to put the transmission back in its place. But, I can't get the shaft in the clutch. The end of the transmission keeps hitting a support brace that is connected to the exhaust. This is being a real pain. Can anyone give me a better way to put it in? I've tried turning it in every direction to get it in, but it seems to hit everything.

[Johny5]

Yeah dude its a pain. First off, unbolt where your header touches your resonator and take that bracket off, it helps. Second, you gotta start the tranny at an angle, where the front is way up in the air and the rear is down more near the ground. Then you and a friend manhandle and shake that bitch until its level. Then put a jack underneath it so you don't lose your progress. Then just have anotehr friend put the shaft in the tranny and twist it while you wiggle the tranny and try to get the splines lined up. I've done this 3 times in the last 5 days, feel like I'm getting better at it :)

[N1ceDrgn]

Also, if you're on the ground, use something to 'push up' on the crank pulley, it'll help angle the engine back and then down for you to line things up. Then wait to bolt up the transmission support until you have all the transmission bolts in. Leaving that undone will help by giving you more room to maneuver things around.

[RedlineRacer]

Finally got it in. Right after I made this thread, I went down stairs and started taking off that exhaust support arm. It was a b*tch too. Those bolts were rusted on tight. But when I got them out of the way it was a breeze, except getting the crossmember back on near the end of the tranny. I love my new clutch. I need to adjust the free play some in the pedal, but it grabs really tight. It grabs when you let the clutch out at about 1/2 an inch. When I open the box, it said it is made intentionally for racing. My dad also saw the clutch and noticed it was made by "Zoom". And said they use to be one of the best racing clutches when he was my age. I don't know how great of a "racing clutch", cause I bought it at Advance.

EDIT: I've also stalled out several time since I've had it in.

[Johny5]

you're lucky, my clutch still slips, did everything perfectly right, still slips, i hate hydrolic clutches with a passion.