Stumped about my clutch. Help Please...

[Wizard]

The fingers should always flatten out if installed correctly. And often the guide pins on the flywheel don't slide through the holes easily especially when new. So don't worry about that either. As long as you have the clutch disc in properly, aligned, and the pressure plate and the fingers are flat when bolted up, the clutch is fine.

Your problem is elsewhere, check to make sure the fork is properly inserted onto the pivot ball, make sure you are bolting the slave on the correct side of the tranny, etc. But really....every clutch i've done does what you are describing. Have you actually tried engaging the clutch with the clutch pedal?

Wiz