What is the best way to get the muncie to sit "flush" in the bellhousing?

I've read that you should never use the bolts to draw the bellhousing on (and from experience, a buddy of mine cracked the "ear" on his muncie that way)!

Any suggestions, beacuse I am "test-fitting item now, and I just cannot quite get the bellhousing on properly!

Thanks

Did you test trans on bellhosing before installing? I have had someone to press on the clutch pedal while sliding trans in. Maybe some back ground of how your problem started, like replacing trans or replacing crank bushing?

What is the best way to get the muncie to sit "flush" in the bellhousing?

I've read that you should never use the bolts to draw the bellhousing on (and from experience, a buddy of mine cracked the "ear" on his muncie that way)!

Any suggestions, beacuse I am "test-fitting item now, and I just cannot quite get the bellhousing on properly!

Thanks

Keith
Usually the trans is damaged while trying to push the input shaft through a mis aligned clutch. Use an alignment tool to align the clutch disc with the pilot bushing. A little care here will make things go much easier later. When you bolt the bell housing on make sure all mating surfaces are clean and free of bumps and burrs and built up paint. Put the bell housing on first then put the tranny in. The bell housing sits on the alignment dowels and should not be difficult to bolt on. If you find that the clutch is not aligned quite right and the tranny won't go in the final 1/2 inch or so, get someone to get in the car as Charlie said and step on the clutch pedal while you push on the transmission and it will go right in. Remember! Test fit everything first before bolting on parts.

To clarify--I have not yet attempted to install the transmissionin the car--I am just acquiring the parts for a converison from auto to manual.

My issue actuially arises while "test-fitting" the pieces on the bench.
The transmission does not seem to quite fit the bellhousing opening ( it will got ove the bellhousing, but gets "stuck" on th elast 1/4-1/8 inch or so...weird because the input shaft retainer does not seem "tapered."

Keith...
Is the Bell mounted to the engine while you test fit? Did you try putting the imput shaft end into the bushing on the end of the crank to be sure its the right size. In most cases just jiggle the trans back and forth..up and down while pushing it in at the same time.

I pulled my trans today, changed the fork and bearing and bolted everything back up. Just moved it up and down etc and it went flush....then I bolted it up. Do not try and force it using the bolts because something is wrong there and you do not want to break anything :(


Kev

Thanks for the responses...I fooled aroung wth it a little mor ehtis evening, and got it flush...had to sand a good bit of paint off of it...with a little "jiggling", it slid on properly...