[Beanhead]

Thanks for your perspectives. As it turns out, here's what appears to happen:

When you install the clutch and pressure plate, you usually use the alignment tool to hold the clutch disc in place while you torque the bolts on the pressure plate, then you take it out. Afterwards, you install the bellhousing, and attach the clutch cable back onto the end of the fork. Well, if you're like me, at that point, you go into the car and hit the pedal a few times, just to check to see if all is ok. Well, I guess when you do that, since the tranny input shaft is not there to "hold" the clutch disc, and if you've taken out the alignment tool after torquing the pressure plate, the clutch disc can easily shift position, and thus, be thrown out of alignment.

So, my big mistake was "forcing" the transmission input shaft in when the disc was slightly out of alignment. It slid just about all the way in with ease, then stopped an inch short of beging able to bolt the tranny onto the bellhousing, so I tightened it together (I know I know, I shouldn't have, but it was my first shot!)

So, in the end, I took all apart again, put it back together with time and care, and viola, the pedal is now rock solid, and I have a feeling it's going to see some pavement this weekend!!!