Okay, I didn't try the "spacer-shim" adjustment just yet.

What I did try is adjusting the clutch pedal height for about 10mm of more range and this helped because it allowed for both more clutch release pull range as well as letting the cable release to return fully back to full clutch engagement.

So when I released the clutch pedal the cable adjustment wasn't so tight that it was still pulling the clutch arm a little forward.

So, this allowed for a little bit of more adjustment ----BUT--- still I am not home. The system still does not work.

O-kay so now my clutch pedal height is sitting higher than the brake pedal. But even now I figured that if I could add some more pedal travel then this would range the clutch arm further.

So, I tried adding an inch to the "arm" lever up at the pedal assembly. I'm thing that a longer arm would give more distance to the range that the pedal action is throwing the cable.

I welded this piece for strength and this is what it looks like.

Attachment 18813
Works ! I can now dial in the whole assembly. The clutch cable adjusts normally and the pedal height can be leveled with the brake pedal. the clutch arm ranges fully. The truck is now drivable.

BUT (!) Clutch activation doesn't feel even. It seems to do more of a "launch" kind of grab down close to the floor rather than a more even kind of grab at maybe pedal more half way up from the floor.

I do not think that this is a fix and I am not presenting this as a a fix on this forum (disclaimer) but this mod is getting me down the road and gives me a chance to troubleshoot further.

So, now the clutch works, the trans. goes into each gear like butter, no-grind!, the cable nut is adjusted to the middle of its range, the clutch engages fully and now !st gear will once again hold this truck like a parking brake but.....

I mean "BUT!" ... this mod allowed me to troubleshoot further and this is what I found out; ---the firewall is flexing like crazy.

Maybe this, maybe a full 1/2" of flexing is my problem ?