5-Spd Transmission install issue

Have 88 Ram 50 sport 4WD. Pulled trans and had it rebuilt. Upon trying to reinstall it we can only get it to about a 1/2”-3/4” from mating to engine. I have tried the following:
1) put drive shaft in to try and rotate spline to slide home. No luck
2) put wrench on crank and worked that to see if that helped.
3) installed pins in the mounting holes to help with alignment.
4) installed cross member to try and help with alignment, again no help.

last thought is to install longer bolts and pull it in that way but I don’t want to damage the pilot bearing.

any help would be appreciated...

thanks,
Mike

Use jacks to support both the transmission and the engine (it will help with aligning them to mate together). And check your clutch plate/input shaft alignment. It is really close to being home so it sounds like to me it's not going into the spigot recess in the end of the crank.

sounds like the clutch to pilot bearing is not in aliment.

move the engone around a bit, try to tilt the front of it up and slide the shaft on. the input shaft is angled upwards on the transmission.

Pulled everything apart and started over. Got it to the same spot and after wiggling it side to side it slid into the pilot bearing and seated. Thanks for all of the responses.

Good you got a win :thumbup: