it does bolt to the engine. mine bolts to a bellhousing bolt. i've worked on cars where it bolted to the head i think. you might try feeding the tube up from underneath .i've had luck that way before. i seem to remember raising the trans on something once to get the engine farther from the firewall to get the tube in.

have heard of an aftermarket flexible tube which can bolt to the firewall. sounds un-right to me, but it's supposed to be OK..

can't say anything about the length... as long as it shows correct level. i guess you got the broken piece out?