Success. I gave it 30 steady brake pumps after 3 earlier feeble [8 or 10 pumps] pumping attempts and then tightened everything down.
I fired it up and was able to get it into gear with no effort at all.
The clutch is so deceivingly light that before I started the car I gave it a tentative push and it did not feel like it had any resistance especially compared to the brake pedal which even when the bleeders were open had more resistance.
Anyway, thanks for the feedback and as usual persistance and patience are requirements for any of these kind of projects.
I have another clutch question that I will search first before posting a new thread

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily