Update: it was the clutch lever that was bent after all. I tried to bend it back and it broke off at the weld on top. Sooo I got to drop the transmission after all. Took me about 3 1/2 hours to get it out of the car... first time dropping a transmission haha. While I was in there I replaced the lever and did a clutch job.
After extensive searching I kept getting conflicting answers on how to add more gear oil since I lost some when removing the drive axles. Finally found this pic for the fluid level hole: http://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f82/m...96/index2.html (was same spot on my 04). My plug has a magnet on it and had accumulated some gunk that I cleaned off.
Hopefully getting it all back together tonight! Taking my time since this isn't my daily driver... yet.