the manual calls for a micrometer and what not but I figured there's a way to tell by "touch". when I tore down only 1 shim came off and the input shaft had a good amount of play, so I'm figuring tighter then that but when is to tight?

 

The clutch gear should have maybe .005" - .008" of preload.

Easiest way to get there is to assemble the trans except for the clutch gear; support it hanging from the case with the clutch gear pointing straight up; assemble the clutch gear to it with no shims; see how much vertical play the clutch gear has; then add about that much shim. keep adding or removing shims until the play just exactly disappears. Then measure the shim pack thickness and assemble it finally with about .008" less shim than that.

If you have too much shim, it forces the case to bulge. Too little, and everything can flop around too much in there.

Remember, when full assembled into the car, the clutch gear is supported at 2 places: its own bearing, and the pilot bearing in the crank; and the mainshaft is supported at 2 places: its own bearing, and the ext hsg bushing by way of the drive shaft yoke. The bearings in between the 2 are NOT supposed to be carrying the load of aligning the shafts. If they do, the tip of the mainshaft will surely not last long.