Got to Malcolms at 8AM Sunday. He couldn't been in Big Bear yet stayed to help a fellow Brit car owner get his ride working.
Left at 6:30 PM with a car that finally goes into gear without a hitch. His wife was none too happy I had Malcolm in the yard all day though.
Once we removed the manifold the engine mated up to the gearbox easily. So after witnessing it I admit you certainly can change a clutch without yanking the trans.
Thanks again Malcolm and this board for all the incredible help you provided a stranger.
Warped clutch disk. Sorry I didn't include that. I was updating another site thread with the conclusion and there's so many yahoo's on the site with so many 'experts' people were screaming I had a bad gearbox (magically went bad sitting on Steve's foor) and the latest was someone screaming at me that Steve and I bent the clutch disk when we installed it.
Something Malcolm laughed at.
I learned my lesson. I will only ask technical issues on this board.
Kudos to Malcolm! Sorry I couldn't make it over to help as I had hoped. I was in panic mode trying to get the MGA on the road all day, and still doing it today.
You know what I meant. 
