After the car has been sitting outside and first ran, the clutch was gripping fine. Then we got on it a little after splashing through some puddles and the clutch started slipping very badly. Is this a coinsidence?

 

No way will the water do it. Unless you're driving in water 3 feet deep, it shouldn't matter a bit.

 

That happend to me awhile ago. I drove through a a couple big puddles, and for the next few days my clutch was making funny noises. Until I let one of my friends drive my car, he eat a good 10% off the clutch trying to do a burnout, but it stopped making the funny noises.

 

do you have that lower bellhousing inspection plate on. if not then a lot of crap might get into the clutch area

 

A car I used to have slipped badly after a long highway drive because of a leaky rear main seal...