Transmission stuck 1/4 - 1/2 out of bellhousing when reinstalling

Is the engine sitting all the way down on the front engine mounts?

I know you said you have it on the cherry picker yet.

You want that gap at the trans to be parallel with the bell housing.

I have wiped a very thin layer of grease on the input splines and the clutch disc spline area. Wipe it on, then wipe it back off with a wrag so there is just a film left behind to help it go together. Don't want any excess getting up to the clutch assembly.