[Aarongriffey]

I ALWAYS USE A TREE CORNERED FILE TO TAKE THE SHARP EDGES OFF THE DISC splines BEFORE I INSTALL the clutch.
Then do the same one the pilot shaft. What a difference that makes.
I use two long bolts with the heads cut off for guides or all thread rod as posted above, but also a couple guides slightly shorter.
Then, like posted above, I jack up the left rear wheel, put the transmission in high gear
And have some body slowly turn the wheel back and forth while I push the engine back towards the tranny keeping the engine at the same level as the transmission.
Last month I went through all those steps putting an 8ba in a ‘46 Mercury.
I pushed on the engine while my 10 year old grand daughter ruined the wheel.
After about 20 seconds she couldn’t turn the wheel any longer.
That’s because the pilot shaft went into the disc hub.
I then checked again to see that the space between the top of the trans bell housing was the same distance from the engine as the bottom and pushed the engine back until it clunked together.
Whole event was less than five minutes.
You need a floor jack under the front of the transmission to keep it level with the engine.
Also put a very light coating of chassis grease on the pilot shaft splines and in the pilot bearing before you set the engine in. Where the throw out bearing slides too.
Usually ta