Release the rear brake and make sure the tranny is out of gear so the
input shaft can rotate freely.

Then manually compress the clutch release (using your hand on the
release from outside the bell housing)  to move it to it normal/at rest
position (where it would be when the motor is installed. The return
spring on the clutch release can be strong enough to give the impression
that the motor won't go in further, when actually it will, you just have
to compress the clutch mechanism, usually about 1cm-1.5cm worth of
travel.  BTDT.

Bringing your ideas to life,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
AIM = IExplain4u
Phone: +1.919.658.1278

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Simon Reinhardt
Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 3:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Why won't my engine go in?

It's an inline-4, has a KEP adapter plate on it, all 4 studs on the
adapter line up with the holes on the bell housing, I've ground the
main shaft down to the correct length and given it a taper bevel, I
test-fit the pilot bearing on the shaft before pressing it into the end
of the crankshaft, and I used the clutch alignment tool while bolting
the pressure plate on.
Everything slides together until the studs are about 1cm from coming
out the front of the bell housing holes, and then it just stops.
WHY?

-Simon