Transmission reinstall questions

[Deluxedave]

87 Ranger 2.9 4x4 - removed the transmission (FM145? - can't recall exactly what the info plate said) to replace the clutch. My first time reinstalling a transmission and I get the feeling something is not right. I replaced the pilot bearing in the flywheel, installed the new clutch using the alignment tool.
When I went to line up the tranny, I tried for a couple of hours to get it to slide in and the closest I could get was about 3/4 in of gap at the bell housing mating surface. I finally started a couple of bolts to pull the tranny in and it went very smooth and seemed to seat.
I tried to rotate the output shaft to the xfer case and it still rotates, but I would think that the shaft would not rotate if the splines were correctly engaged. Help!

 

[ElleShooTiger]

87 Ranger 2.9 4x4 - removed the transmission (FM145? - can't recall exactly what the info plate said) to replace the clutch. My first time reinstalling a transmission and I get the feeling something is not right. I replaced the pilot bearing in the flywheel, installed the new clutch using the alignment tool.
When I went to line up the tranny, I tried for a couple of hours to get it to slide in and the closest I could get was about 3/4 in of gap at the bell housing mating surface. I finally started a couple of bolts to pull the tranny in and it went very smooth and seemed to seat.
I tried to rotate the output shaft to the xfer case and it still rotates, but I would think that the shaft would not rotate if the splines were correctly engaged. Help!

First thing, did you put it in gear before trying to turn the output shaft??

On the manual transmissions, you cant seat the trans by hand due to the slave cylinder being fully extended. The bolt will draw the trans in and compress the slave.

 

[Deluxedave]

Duh! No, I did not put it in gear and thanks for the reassurance that the manual transmission needs to be seated using the mounting bolts to compress the slave.

Huge relief as I would have pulled it back out if it were not for your input!!

 

[Deluxedave]

Ok, so now I got it out of the garage to test it and the clutch barely engages. It is like it will move the truck a little on a level or down hill slope, but will not move it up hill at all. I tried bleeding the hydraulics, but still won't go. I may need to try to bleed it again, but is there something else I should check?
The new Duralast clutch from Autozone had an information sheet that said something about a new 2 piece slave cylinder bearing that was replacing the old 3 piece one. I didn't see any difference when I pulled it off, so I just replaced the one piece.