skicker & JohnRR....The shop did use offset dowels to obtain proper transmission (4 speed) alignment. However, I really had a hard time slipping the trans. into place when I put everything together. I put two guide pins in the bottom two bell housing holes and bolts in the two top holes. Then, I tightened the bolts to pull the trans. into place. It would NOT slip into place by hand. I have no idea why the shop resurfaced the bell housing???? I'm wondering about your statement of the starter too tight against the ring gear being very possible! If that is the problem, how do I remedy it? Another point I noticed was the space between the starter gear and the ring gear is </= 1/8th inch (at rest position).