Hi all,
When I did my engine (nr. #SL2199) rebuild two years ago and put it back (in the LHD MKV DHC #647194) and I did everything like to book said.
I didn’t question it, I used an old extra shaft to align the clutch plate and then mounted the gearbox onto the engine, like they wrote, so it was aligned, but not tightened further than finger tight. Then I lifted the whole assembly, fixed the engine mounts and the gearbox mounts according to the marks I had made when I took it out, attached the clutch mechanism AND then I did press the clutch at least 12 times and rotated the engine (without spark plugs) and gearbox output shaft a few times by hand. Then I tightened the bolts, put the spark plugs in and started the engine as soon as I could. I should have of course also mounted the gearbox top plate, but didn’t think it would be necessary. (Big mistake, more in my old engine parts thread. )
Cheers!
PS. Edit: this one: