Ok, drove my truck today. Clutch engages about a quarter-inch off the floor. Ok, that should be an adjustment. But it fully engages in like the next quarter-inch. My recollection is that the clutch plate has leaf springs in it (not the springs in the pressure plate) which are meant to soften engagement. Might these springs be shot, or is the plate simply worn? It's drivable, though: it engages fast, but not neck-snapping nor engine stalling (at least not in granny gear!).

1977 NP435, I think (need to look again). Gear knob says 1-4 (could be non-stock), and first is definately not synchro. Reverse is to the right and down.

Yep 435 trans. Is it a hydro clutch with a slave cyl.?

Nope, Z bar.

Shoot, dawned on me when I woke up: I recall seeing some oil underneath, on the oil pan; leak of some sort but didn't look too bad. Now that I think about it, though, doesn't oil on the clutch tend to cause grabbing? Did not drive on the road, so I have no idea if it slips or not--did not in the yard.

Hope not. Those cast iron trannies are not light!

drive it on road for a bit ...then decide if you need anything adjusted/changed

Yeah, I'll probably wind up doing that. Just trying to look ahead.