I recently switched to a 4 speed and this will be my first real clutch adjustment.

Not always, but most of the time I have to push the clutch in all the way to the floor to shift freely and avoid grinding the gears going into first or second.

I have no play in the clutch system now and I don't want to adjust too far and wear the clutch out early. So how do I know when the clutch is adjusted properly to avoid excessive wear?

Thanks

Did you install a pilot bearing or a pilot bushing in the crank? Sometimes a pilot bushing is sticky and makes it hard to shift into first from a stand still, particularly if you didn't align the bell housing when you installed it.

You may also have an off-center pressure plate. I've seen more than one pressure plate that needed adjustment of its face before being installed for the fist time. The symptoms are what you describe.

Don't drive it with no play. As everything heats up, that lack of free play will turn into pressure on the T/O bearing which will result in slippage and a wasted clutch disc.

there are two types of throw out bearings a short and a long collar. you might have a short installed. this would give you the feeling of not fully disengaging. if the parts you installed are worn also would also give you not enough adjustment. as quenton said the pilot bearing sticking would do problems also.

68 400 ho.

If you have no free travel AND it isn't releasing proper, it may very well be more than an adjustment.

It's really seems like the clutch is not disengaging until I puish the pedal in all the way to the floor. If I push the pedal to the floor, the trans shifts great. But the pedal has to be against the floor.

I took the car for a drive the other day and found that the same thing happens no matter what gear I'm shifting to.

The clutch, clutch plate, flywheel, bearing, and fork are all new. I'm not sure if I have the long or short collar throw out bearing.

I have a pilot bearing.

When I say no play, I mean that I feel spring like resistance as I push on the pedal. There's no free travel of the pedal before I get resistance.