Auto-adjust clutch cable help

[camron at worldaccessnet.com (Camron D. Crouse)]

So I sprung for the auto-adjuster.  I got the broken old 
manually-adjustable cable out pretty easy.

I'm outside in a light rain trying to get the new bugger in, but

A. The black outer sleeve seems about 4 inches too long to fit under the 
intake boot (and I have not yet released the spring retaining straps), and
B. The inner cable seems to be just about 1 inch or less too short to 
feed it through the transaxle lever to secure it with the metal 
retainers.  I might be able to jockey it in... or is there a clutch 
pedal adjustment that could get me another inch or so of cable at the 
bottom?

I have a 9A 2.0L 16V and a standard 16V AGB 020 tranny ( I believe this 
came with the donor engine, the date code is like 89, I think) on an 
86.5 Roc 16V

Is this why the Bentley says these two cables are not interchangeable?  
Should I have gone for the manual cable for this reason?  Sounded from 
the list that they both fit...

Oh, and yes, the firewall end of the cable under the hood is firmly 
tapped into the recepticle all the way.

Fast replies appreciated!

- Camron from Vancouver, WA USA
   '86.5 Black 16V 2.0L