Well you don't want to replace the clutch without having the flywheel resurfaced anyway. The new clutch needs that fresh, roughed up surface to seat and break in properly.

 

Well......

I jacked up the truck and got a closer look... Seems like there was a lot of oil coming from the rear of the engine, like drips.

So my guess is the rear main seal went bad, leaking onto the clutch. I also noticed the transmission mount was totally shot. The transmission wasn't straight in respect to the mount.. It was totally over to the side. Maybe with misaligned trans put too much pressure of the seal?

I tried to get the inspection plate off the bellhousing, but couldn't get it all the way. There was oily crud in there from what I could tell.

Anyway, not sure what I'm gonna do lol

 

Hmm, well with that said, I agree that there is a chance the clutch plate is probably thoroughly soaked in oil. That would explain why it doesn't grab, but I would think you would have been smelling a burning oil smell, and it still doesn't explain the griding noise you heard.

Its hard to put stress on the rear main seal. They are a very common thing to go bad on these trucks. If you were putting stress on that seal, the crankshaft bearings and rod bearings would all be shot and your engine would barely run.

You need to pull the transmission, get a gallon of purple cleaner, and clean everything up. Then replace the rear main seal and oil pump (not saying there is anything wrong with the oil pump, but nobody replaces one without the other because they are both right there). Then put a new mount on the transmission... not a hard thing to replace. Then you need to make a decision on what to do with the clutch. You need a disc for sure, you won't be able to effectively dry the disc. You can clean the flywheel and pressure plate with brake cleaner, but you should just go ahead and get a clutch kit that comes with the disc, pilot and throwout bearings, and pressure plate. Then get the flywheel cleaned and resurfaced.

I know it sounds like a lot of money and work, but it sounds to me like it needs to be done.

 

Alright guys, good news!

A buddy came over with a lot of ambition, and we got the trans out! The clutch looks good, but inside the middle where the springs are, there's a metal ring aparently that kinda goes around the spring. It was busted into many pieces. There were some hot spots on the flywheel and the other thing, but the pads were fine.

It didn't look like an oil problem at all. Although there was a leak on the oil pan gasket... Does that involve lifting the engine? Probably just gonna let it go... Too many miles.

 

Pictures:

Trans:



Clutch:


You can see the broken part around the spring..

 

I have the same problem, 4times now! with clutch disk, all made china. is yours?