It looks like your spring is rubbing the header, which is not good. One or both will wear quickly, it will be noisy, and you will feel it in the clutch pedal.
At the bottom of this web page, I demonstrate where to relocate the return spring holes for a better pull angle by the spring, preventing the fork from twisting and cocking the release bearing while the fork is pushing on it. In my picture, I think I had the spring attached to the tail of a hose clamp wrapped around one of the header tubes. I didn't like the location of the factory spring and the headers may have also gotten in the way of the path of the original spring location. I wanted the spring to be parallel to the car, not angled like the factory did it. I don't have those headers on anymore. I am not certain where I have routed the spring with the current headers.
1986 Monte Carlo SS - Photographs
When the clutch freeplay is properly set, you should be able to remove the lower pushrod by pushing the bellcrank and fork in opposite directions. Because of this, I recommend adding a spring between the fork and the gage hole in the lower arm of the bellcrank. When shifting quickly, I have had the lower pushrod fall out. The added spring fixed that problem.
From my experience: Be sure to liberally lubricate the front bearing retainer on the transmission or the release bearing will scrub/chatter on it and cause prematurely wear. The bearing may have come with a little bit of grease, inside, but it isn't enough.
I searched to see if anyone uploaded an electronic copy of the 1979 service manual but could only find this one that had ads on each page. When I tried the search feature, I was directed to the wrong page. On page 824 is an image of the location of the return spring. I think the angle is goofy. The spring connects to a hole in the frame. I have never seen the factory spring in place. My 1979 Malibu Wagon was missing that spring when I got it. I hope from the picture, you can identify what hole is being used.
https://www.scribd.com/document/517010292/Chevrolet-Service-Manual
At the bottom of this web page, I demonstrate where to relocate the return spring holes for a better pull angle by the spring, preventing the fork from twisting and cocking the release bearing while the fork is pushing on it. In my picture, I think I had the spring attached to the tail of a hose clamp wrapped around one of the header tubes. I didn't like the location of the factory spring and the headers may have also gotten in the way of the path of the original spring location. I wanted the spring to be parallel to the car, not angled like the factory did it. I don't have those headers on anymore. I am not certain where I have routed the spring with the current headers.
1986 Monte Carlo SS - Photographs
When the clutch freeplay is properly set, you should be able to remove the lower pushrod by pushing the bellcrank and fork in opposite directions. Because of this, I recommend adding a spring between the fork and the gage hole in the lower arm of the bellcrank. When shifting quickly, I have had the lower pushrod fall out. The added spring fixed that problem.
From my experience: Be sure to liberally lubricate the front bearing retainer on the transmission or the release bearing will scrub/chatter on it and cause prematurely wear. The bearing may have come with a little bit of grease, inside, but it isn't enough.
I searched to see if anyone uploaded an electronic copy of the 1979 service manual but could only find this one that had ads on each page. When I tried the search feature, I was directed to the wrong page. On page 824 is an image of the location of the return spring. I think the angle is goofy. The spring connects to a hole in the frame. I have never seen the factory spring in place. My 1979 Malibu Wagon was missing that spring when I got it. I hope from the picture, you can identify what hole is being used.
https://www.scribd.com/document/517010292/Chevrolet-Service-Manual
