Did you replace the pilot bushing?
Which toploader is it?
I found out yesterday that a big block toploader behind a small block is a recipe for disaster. The pilot shafts on the big block trannys are shorter than the ones on the small blocks. The shorter shafts don't go far enough into the bushing to be safe due to the difference in the bellhousings. Seeing as I have this setup I have to pull my tranny to check if the shaft was changed when the tranny was installed.
Hell, I was thinking of putting a clutch in anyway.





You want there to be play in the linkage, so you should shorten the rod until there is about 1/8" play between the rod and the fork before the fork comes in contact with the throwout bearing. Take the spring off the fork so you can move it back and forth. This should equate to about an inch of free travel in the pedal.

 

good point about the tranny ,, we did see on top it said 65 to 73,, how else could we check ,, everything is smooth now


ok when i installed the setup ( z bar ) i adjusted the linkage most of the way in ,, if not all the way in ,, i think i need to extent it a little ,,,,we are going to check the free travel and total travel also ,, but sense it is catches at the top sound like it needs to be extended ???