I may be answering my own question here but what are the signs of a bad clutch? My truck is a 5 speed with the short shift installed and it is slightly hard for me to shift into 1st gear and reverse. At stop lights I always press the clutch in till it hits the floor and when I first had the truck shifting was never smooth like a new clutch should feel. Even when downshifting from 5th to 4th I can hear the tranny racing up and wanting to grind . Also I hardly ever grind the gears! Here is how I drive in from 1st through 5th gear I rev it to 2-2.5 rpms in a slow but constant acceleration so I don't produce any smoke and sometimes I do blow a little smoke out.


So what do you think it is my clutch going bad? I need more clutch fluid? Are my four bolts holding the shifter to the tranny loose?

 

there are many signs to a bad clutch ,throughout bearing or pillot bearing.
pedal is real high when releasing, chadder,slipping,lowpeddal pressure.ETC
a worn pilot bushing will cause the symtoms your having.or it could just be the short shifter.I have never dealt with one so Im guessing.