first off, i have the mechanical clutch,i just had a new clutch put in in june.

do i need to adjust the clutch linkage over time or is it self adjusting?

and are all gm 5 speeds borg warner?

 

Must adjust it.

82 was super T-10 4spd
Or Saginaw 4spd

83 was Borg Warner T5 only.

 

how often should i adjust it?i dont know anything about transmissions,except how they work in theory.i have never messed with one,or had to for that matter.

 

You need to adjust it so that the clutch fully releases at an appropriate pedal height from the floor, and you need it to fully release so that shifting can take place without clutch drag to prevent wear on the synchros. That's one thing I hated about mechanical linkage and loved about hydraulics.

 

whats the aprpriate heighth from the floor? i figure it should be fully disengaged right before the pedal hits the floor,right?

and how much play should there be in the throw out arm before it starts to engage?right now it moves about an inch before it engages the clutch.

 

The pedal should have about 1/2" of freeplay (slack) with a mechanical linkage.