[lyleknievel]

So...my analysis is that the pressure plate was not allowing the clutch to properly release -- not enough stroke to adjust the pressure plate to release the clutch disk...
I could have just swapped out the pressure plate, but since this one was already balanced to the flywheel I was reluctant to do that.
And so in the end I simply installed washers between the pressure plate and the flywheel, adjusted the fingers according to the specs, and put it all back together and everything is working fine.
Per the guidelines, I adjusted the pedal so that there is about 1" pedal travel before the throwout bearing is contacted. The clutch totally releases with the pedal down to the floor, clutch is fully engaged when the clutch pedal is released...so all good!