If your transmission is out of the car, measure from the outer edge of the bell housing to the tips of the fingers on the pressure plate. This is the measurement that must coorespond to within .125" or 1/8" of the measurement from "the face of your transmission to the face of the hydraulic piston as the piston is completely closed or pushed in". You may need to push it in by hand. You will need to add 1" to this measurement to determine the length of the hydraulic piston as it is fully extended. This is what will engage the fingers on the pressure plate.
There is only one line that hangs off of the car for bleeding the clutch. Have someone sit in the car, pump the clutch 4-5 times then hold it in. While they are holding the clutch down, crack the fitting on the bleeder and it will sputter for a second or two then it will have a bit of fluid come out of it. Catch it in a small cup or bowl. The clutch pedal will go to mush for the person operating it. Quickly close the bleeder. Repeat this 5-10 times perhaps until all of the air is out of the line. You'll only lose about 1/4 cup of fluid. As long as the fluid in the master cylinder remains above the lines that it is feeding you'll be ok. You can then top it off when you are done.
Most important is the measurement from the fingers of the pressure plate to the bell housing and compare it to the measurement from the face of the tranny to the face of the closed hydraulic cylinder. You Do Not have to start the engine to do this.
I just went through this myself and had David Kee come up and give me the crash course on Hydraulic clutches. If you need to, you are welcome to drop me an email and I'll send you my phone number and perhaps I can help you out here.
renaissance.man@cox-internet.com
Regards,