Problems with my 49 flathead clutch and pressure plate

Have a 49 Flathead and matching it up with a 40 tranny. 11 inch disc and pressure plate, everything fits together fine but when I tighten down the 6 pressure plate mounting bolts to the flywheel, the contact pins retract way back inward and when the tranny is installed the throw-out bearing can't travel far enough to contact the 3 plate points to engage the plate. Everyone tells me with the throw-out bearing fully retracted by the spring and with no forward pressure on the pedal, the 3 contact points should be about 1/8 of an inch from making contact with the bearing face. With the pins retracted in like they are, they distance is 1 full inch away and when you push the clutch pedal it moves the bearing forward to where it just starts to make contact and thats all the movement I get. I basically have no pedal and pedal adjustments dont go far enough to help. Is a 49 pressure plate different than what the 40 tranny is suppose to have ? Are the contact points suppose to retract way back when tightened against the flywheel ? How can I get 1/8 seperation from the points and the bearing when they currently are a full inch apart with everything bolted up ? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.  

I'm having the same problem connecting my 1949 Ford F1 V8 Flathead to a GM T5 tranny. I am using a new flywheel with a 10" pressure plate and a 14 spline GM Clutch Disc. I purchased the Cornhusker T5 conversion package with the factory internal throwout bearing for the tranny and everything bolted up just fine but I don't have enough clutch pedal to engage the clutch while the engine is running. Don't know if this is an issue with the OEM linkage or weather it's something to do with the throwout bearing. I'll let you know if I find the answer.  

mz40ford;
I have the '50 flatty out of my '34 right now.  I have had this combination for over 30 years using a closed driveline.  The clutch action has always been light and smooth without any problems of travel distance.  The flywheel and clutch are from a '50, using a 9" clutch.  I have the original '34 pedal assembly installed.  The transmission is the top loader style.  It may be a '35.
 Let me know if you still need help, I can take measurements on my combination which has worked great for all these years.  

Are you using the Ford internal throwout bearing style or the more conventional fork type assembly. The internal style relies on a turning of a 1" shaft that engages the bearing into the pressure plate. Any play in the linkage from the pedal to the bearing is amplified by this turning motion. I have discovered upon disassembly that the shaft that controls the throwout bearing is stiff because of inproper aligment with the bushings, I don't think it is the cause of the problem but I have to correct it anyway.  

You sure you didn't reverse the clutch plate. It sounds suspicious that the contact pins are retracted too far, that would definitely have that affect on the pedal. Anything else would be the adjustment or mix match of parts.If the pressure plate is fine it would be only related to the travel of the clutch shaft against the pressure plate. It has to be minimal for the cluch to work correstly.  

had same problem with my 41 ford with 302 and stock 3 speed. Found out I had a heavy duty truck clutch disc(thicker). Replaced with a car dics and operated correctly.  

This is not an answer to the question just another question. On average how much would it cost to rebuild a Flathead V8 completely, talking about 49-53 era?