I may be wrong...but if I'm not mistaken, the ACX is not a reference card. Hence they layout will be different. You have to buy a reference card in order for the bracket and cooler to fit. To my knowledge (again, I could be wrong), but the ACX card is a non-reference card, thus, has a custom layout designed by EVGA.

pureallstar3482
I may be wrong...but if I'm not mistaken, the ACX is not a reference card. Hence they layout will be different. You have to buy a reference card in order for the bracket and cooler to fit. To my knowledge (again, I could be wrong), but the ACX card is a non-reference card, thus, has a custom layout designed by EVGA.

980ti ACX 2.0 cards are on reference PCBs only difference is the cooler - i could be wrong but this is based on my talks with support and also the available info about the PCB itself. 
 
Where did you read this? My understanding is that only the Classified / Kingpin cards from EVGA have custom PCBs

Again, I wasn't entirely sure. Looking around, it is, in fact, a reference PCB. As long as you have the reference style blower (instead of a push pull fan, it discharges through the back of the card) the bracket and cooler should fit.

Looks like you got the base plate with it.  Reading back through the OP, you may be right on the screws.  If you didn't get the screws with it as well, I don't know that the ACX screws will fit.  Is the base plate on the ACX the same measure of thickness?  Did you measure the length of the posts?
 
EDIT:  Just saw you changed the thermal pads.  I'm not sure what the thickness is on the original pads.  I remember an EVGA tech answering that, but can't find the thread right away.  Are they the same thickness?

on1yalad
i will see if i can i find my caliper and measure the posts. i really don't want to pull my retail hybrid 980ti apart  but i may have to. 
 
do you think EVGA would send me some screws if that was the problem?
 

CoercionShaman
EDIT:  Just saw you changed the thermal pads.  I'm not sure what the thickness is on the original pads.  I remember an EVGA tech answering that, but can't find the thread right away.  Are they the same thickness?

 
1mm was suggested by Evga support, and those were what i bought

I meant to ask if the posts on the ACX where the same length as the AIO kit.  I guess it is possible that the AIO you received is a different length than any other AIO, but that seems highly unlikely.
 
You could always ask about the screws.  I have no idea.
 
Good deal on the pads.  Thought I'd ask since it was a variable.
 
EDIT:  I ask because the ACX kit comes with screws that truly could be different http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=100-FS-2990-B9
 

Talked to Support. 
 
They said their shouldn't be any difference between ACX heatsink screws and reference screws, but they will be sending out a screw pack for good measure.
 
if not them i think i need to find a longer m3(length 10-12mm) screw just not sure of the the thread, any suggestions are welcome if the screw pack doesn't work.
 
 

EVGATech_ChrisB
Dear on1yalad,
 
I can confirm that your request for these screws is processing and that the reference screws can be a little longer than the ACX screws so this should fix your install issue.  Please do not hesitate to let me know if you should need more help. chrisb@evga.com
 
 

on1yalad
Talked to Support. 
 
They said their shouldn't be any difference between ACX heatsink screws and reference screws, but they will be sending out a screw pack for good measure.
 
if not them i think i need to find a longer m3(length 10-12mm) screw just not sure of the the thread, any suggestions are welcome if the screw pack doesn't work.
 
 

Thanks again Chris and Brandon for the help. i know it wasn't required as this was kinda out of scope of the products but the support is why i buy/recommend EVGA and their products wherever i can.
 
ill update the thread once i get the screw package and get the card installed. 

Wanted to share an update. 
So i received the screws and unfortunately they are exactly the same. i compared them to my retail hybrid 980ti and they seem to be 2mm longer. What i decided to do was to soft washer the screws without the spring and seems to work fine.
 
i tried it with the pre-applied thermal compound and it was about 3c lower than my retail hybrid, but i needed to make an adjustment which i had forgot to do before hand and so i spend the next 3 hours cleaning -> repasting -> installing -> testing  to see where my temps were. 
 
unfortunately the results were no where near the pre-applied thermal compound. usually it was about 8c warmer than preapplied and 5-6c above the retail hybrid 980ti. i finally decided to use a smaller amount than what most users were suggesting, as i remember that smaller amounts were better cause it was thinner and less air and that did it. i am about 1-2c higher than the retail card, and im okay with that. 
 
i have noticed that i cant get over 1300mhz on this card i don't know if that is a bios problem due to the temp/voltage table as it is a SC ACX bios. i know support has said that best not to mess with the bios. but if the cards are both ~72+ ASIC and same temps couldn't i flash the stock hybrid bios on the SC AC card? (obliviously backing up the stock on the ACX card.)

The power tables are the same but the boost tables are shifted i think due to the expected heat from an Air cooler vs a water AIO. i am not trying to get on crazy overclocks but my stock retail hybrid hits 1450mhz stable and the SLI combo is 1304Mhz limited by the ACX card.
 
Also it would fix the annpoying thing where the fans are not sync'd so i have to keep AB or Precision open other wise the PCB fan shuts off due to the retail hybrid base line 20% = 0% on the ACX card.
 
http://imgur.com/Hg3YOqs