With the fingers uneven, the throwout bearing is going to pick up the pressure plate unevenly. Since your cover plates are already crap, you might try the hammer thing and level out the fingers. What's it going to hurt? It may solve your problem.
[on edit] I've seen something John Milliman posted - If it's stupid, but it works, it isn't stupid.

Last edited by klhansen; 01/10/2025 6:10 PM.

Kevin
1951 Chevy 3100 work truck
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1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car)
Busting rust since the mid-60's
If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.