Thanks for the help everyone!
Jerry- I will give the 2nd gear quick to 1st trick a try and report back as to how that goes. I will be away from the truck till next weekend so it will be a while before I get the chance. Hopefully that will work for the time being and the clutch will wear in as you say.
The longer I wait at a stop sign with the clutch pushed in the less grinding and the easier it is to get into first gear. The only problem with that is if I have traffic behind me they don't seem to appreciate the 30-60 seconds I sit at each stop sign. The nerve of some people!
So here is bit more info...The truck came to me with the 235 just bolted in it and the clutch and transmission installed to the engine. I hooked up the shift and clutch linkages and in doing that discovered it had the wrong throwout bearing and was able to get over that hurdle. I was told by the previous owner that he had removed a later model 350 that had used the same transmission that is currently in the truck now. So I assume that the clutch must have come with the 235 that's in the truck now unless its the same as one used with a 350. He told me he inspected the clutch and it all looked "like new" so he reused it. So I have no clue what shape "like new" to him is. But I would think that the clutch and flywheel must be worn together in their previous life before it made its way to my truck. To my knowledge the flywheel was not resurfaced. I feel like the clutch is working fine in my opinion. It seems to grab great and feels solid. But I am the guy that hooked up the linkages and I don't profess to be a mechanic so it's very possible I'm goofing something up. I've been learning as I go....or don't go..as is the case now.
So I have a couple more questions for you smart guys.
1.-If the clutch has a slight drag. That should eventually wear in, correct? Could I expediate that wear in process by taking off in second gear instead of first gear? I wouldn't do this trying to go up a hill but just for a while on flat roads. My thought is the extra slow clutching necessary for getting the truck moving ought to wear it in a bit faster.
2.-If 1/8" separation between the clutch and flywheel is not enough what should it be? And how do I go about adjusting that spacing? The only spot I see where I could change that spacing would be to back out the clutch fork pivot ball/bolt. I messed with The free clutch pedal adjustment nuts on the shepards hook that links to the clutch pedal and that didn't make any difference with the grinding in first gear.
Thanks for the help guys!
