Technical Olds engine hot rod clutch problems

This is an Olds 324 engine hooked to a 40's Ford era side shift 3 speed tranny. The Olds engine is adapted to the Ford with an Offenhauser adapter plate. The clutch is an 11"assy pn 51-7550K. from Van Pelt
The throw out lever is inoperative because it looks like the release fingers are hitting the mainshaft bearing retainer (aka the part the t/o bearing rides on).
I place no blame on Van Pelt as it has been some time since I selected and ordered the parts. Just wondering if the clutch kit is wrong for the application.
I have not pulled the engine or trans yet to see wtf is up. Should have been 9-1/2" or 10" clutch?
Anyone had this happen? Looks like I could shorten the bearing retainer.
Thanks as always,
Guy

 

First thing I did. Can see the fingers are touching the bearing retainer.

 

Leaving town for a while. Will get back into this when I return,
Thanks for your thoughts

 

More better parts
Or opt out to smaller clutch

 

I pulled the engine to see wtf. Looks like the clutch fingers should clear the bearing retainer. Now I'm thinking maybe not enough mechanical advantage in the clutch linkage!

 

I also run a 11 inch clutch on a 324 olds with a 39 trans.

 

I ran the stock Olds pressure plate with 1950 Merc disc, in a 40 with stock side shift transmission, with stock clutch linkage and it was smooth and very easy to push.

Anyways, I keep thinking someone on here had a problem where they couldn't push the pedal down
I think it was something like the bearing or it's casting was going partly through, in between the fingers, causing it to get wedged . I'm not sure about that, maybe it was the tips of the fingers catching on some factory seam or ridge on the bearing? Idk

Also I've seen different brands of pressure plates for the same car, where some push easy and some are way too hard, (on semi modern cars.) Take the plate off, put it on the floor and try your heel on each finger before you put the engine back in

 

Thanks for confirming that it should work. F&J in the following post has made a suggestion for something to look at.

 

Thanks for the reply. It's -4 here this am. I'm waiting for the shop to warm up. When it gets a bit mor temperate I'll start looking into your suggestions. I did take a pry bar and levered against the fingers and didn't find anything out of normal.