Clutch/trans question

[97GSTspyder]

Ok so this doesn't exactly deal with my eclipse, but my buddys 92 Cavalier. I tried posting a thread on the Cavalier forums but i don't think anyone likes me in there cause i don't drive a cavi haha. Anyway the car needed a new clutch. I tore everything apart, took the new clutch out of the box and there was no alignment tool. Tried calling various parts stores for one and every single one of them gave me the same answer "it's a self-aligning clutch, it doesn't need a tool". So for two days straight i stood in front of the car scratching my ass trying to figure out HOW THE HELL it self aligns. It wasn't possible. So i took my eclipse alignment tool and rolled some duct tape around it so it'd fit 'snug' with the pilot bearing and clutch disc. Tried getting the tranny in, no go. The input shaft wasn't engaging with the disc. So i went and got a universal clutch alignment tool. Never seen or used one of these before. Well it comes with different bushing for various pilot bearings. None of them fit perfect. I had to shave one down slightly so it would fit. After that i got the clutch on. After 4 hours of trying to get the damn trans on it finally slid in (was doing it by myself and this car is a PITA to work on). Now after getting everything put back together i noticed that the very front of the transmission is seperated from the block by about 1/8 of an inch. But the trans is on, both half shafts are in, every other part lined up perfect. Why the hell is the front seperated slightly? I tried tightning the bolts more, no luck...Now the last damn thing i want to do is tear it back out. I figure the input shaft HAS to be engaged, right? Or else i wouldn't have got that far...Even the clutch pedal is nice and springy. All there is left to do is fill the tranny up with fluid, bleed the right front brake and put the wheels on. Anyone ever have a problem like this before? I would hate to start this thing up and for some reason have the input shaft not engaged, that wouldn't sound very good...

[gthompson97]

Sounds like something isn't lined up right. I'd tear it back apart again and make sure it goes together right before you start putting everything back together. Chances are if you drive it like that you could fuck up some serious shit.