Mazda B2500 Tranny problems

Hello folks. New to this site but I figured i should join up since I'm having some problems. How shall i begin... Let me give the quick version:

i drive a 5 speed 1999 mazda b2500.

I was driving when my transmission blew on me and i came to a screeching halt. I could still shift in and out of gears fine, but the tranny was shot and i couldn't move. so i had it towed home until i picked up a new tranny. I spent all day today putting it in, and i checked my clutch (http://www.mazdaforum.com/m_30282/tm.htm#) which was pretty beat up so i went and bought a clutch kit for about 100 bucks. I put the new clutch in with no problems and put the new tranny in as well, putting about 3 qts of gear oil in it before it topped off. I bled the clutch to get the air out of it as well.

with the truck (http://www.mazdaforum.com/m_30282/tm.htm#) off, i could shift gears no problems very smooth. however when i started the truck, it took way too much force to get it into gear. I took it around the block just to see how it ran and it seems something is wrong with it. 1st and 2nd gear are extremely hard to shift into but 3rd and 4th were ok when i was already rolling.

In any case im kind of at a loss as to what to do. I did everything by the book and nothing seemed wrong. The only thing i can think of is the tranny i bought is somehow no good. It was a used tranny with about 60k miles on it, but its warrenteed so im not worried.. just want to maybe get some feedback on here before i go taking everything apart again.

any and all help would be appreciated

you are supposed to put Mercon atf fluid in your Manuel transmission. i dont know this is the problem though. you might need a new shifter. and in the Haynes trouble shooting is says

1 Clutch not releasing completely
2 loose,damaged or out of adjustment shift linkage