All the normal procedures sound good until you find out some idiot installed the wrong clutch. I recently did a clutch as part of an OD conversion. This was on a 55-2 original V-8 truck with an 11" clutch. It appears that the PO had the engine replaced along with a new clutch. They must have installed the clutch on the flywheel before installing the bell housing. Believe me it wasn't coming out that hole! I have probably done a hundred of them over the years and have not encountered this situation. I finally jacked up the engine and loosened all the bell housing bolts, removed the fork and finally pried it out. My clutch guy confirmed that it was clearly the wrong clutch which had a diaphragm spring that protruded at least 1/2" further than the stock unit. Fortunately the V-8 bell housing separates without removing the flywheel unlike the early 6 cyl engines. You never know what you are going to run into on this old equipment and many times you just have to find creative ways to get the job done.
Fred
