The car-06 Saturn Vue awd with honda drivetrain.
3.5 V6 with a 5AT transmission.
I disassembled the transmission to replace the carrier bearings and output shaft bearing. now i'm going back together and the case will only come as close as 3/8". the cir clip is already spread around the output shaft bearing. everything looks lined up. the reverse idler gear is meshing with the reverse driven gear and the 5th/reverse drive gear.

i've spent 3 hours trying to get the cases together. applied grease to all shafts that slide into the transmission case housing to check for alignment. checks ok. someone that has had one of these transmissions apart, please help . thank you.

 

nevermind.