Cause for concern? stage 3- install first start-up

[Quattrocket]

Okay so I just topped up my fluids and cranked the car over for the first time. sputtered a little but nothing major. now I noticed my clutch(new southbend stg3) sits really close to the floor. it only moves about 4-5 inches. Now there was a fair amount of smoke coming from the engine bay but no major stink. The front axels aren't installed yet so obviously the car won't move in order for me to see if there is a clutch problem yet. I'm waiting on those cork sealing washers for the axels before I install them, $15 each BTW, fucking ripoff.
So what could be the issue or is there even an issue at all? When I installed the clutch I re-surfaced the flywheel which looked pretty decent, and made sure the SAC setting was re-set (very little slack in the springs).
BTW when I pushed the clutch for the first time it was up high at the normal position, and it clicked 3 times as it travelled to the floor, after that it stayed 4-5 inches from the floor. I can feel lots of pressure as I push on it.
Sorry if my sentences are choppy Im just trying to post as much as I can remember. with the axels removed i could feel the clutch engage and disengage and the car moved like a fraction of an inch so I think its functioning just not sure if it's functioning properly. thanks for any help guys, maybe I just need some re-assurance that nothing is wrong IDK, This is easily the biggest under-taking I have endured with my car, worried I just fucked it up.

[Castor Troy]

while i cant speak to the function of the clutch, i would imagine the smoke was just oil or whatever else burning off the exhaust or exhaust manifold.

[Paulyworld1432]

It sounds like everything is ok. The smoke is normal on startup as long as it goes away after awhile. As for the clutch, maybe make sure your slave cylinder is seated properly? Other than that I would say wait until you can drive the car and see if there's a problem! I would assume its ok.

[spinny]

The clutch is not supposed to be that low

[Quattrocket]

okay something else I noticed. when I put the car in gear, even with the clutch pressed the speedo needle starts moving.

[haus4]

hmm the speedo moves when the car is in gear?? Does it move with the clutch depressed and it in neutral. You also have the rear axle hooked up correct? We need a little more info. I just want to make sure that your clutch is not all the time engaged.

[Quattrocket]

The rear axels are installed, the whole car is fully re-assembled just the front axels. The shifter hasn't been adjusted yet but it will go into most gears with a little pushing. but once it goes into gear even with the clutch pressed the speedo will jump up. And if I rev the engine the needle will continue to climb as if it were all fully engaged... shitty.

Does this sound like something to do with the slave cylinder maybe not on properly? I hope the SAC didn't eff up during install.

[t1demont1]

sounds like clutch may not be bled fully?

[NigelS4]

You need to check the slave cylinder. If you're lucky, you just need to rebleed it. If you didn't reinstall the slave correctly, you'll blow it out very quickly and need to replace. You'll know that when the pedal drops to the floor.

When installing the slave, do it before the engine is resting on it's mounts, and look at it from above. It's easy to reinstall it slightly off, which results in it blowing out, as it's not pushing on the fork correctly.

Your description matches

a) Bleed clutch again (if you did the swap just removing the slave, unlikely)

b) Slave cylinder is off-whack

[GetAwayFromMe]

What you are not noticing is than when you put it in the gear your shafts are moving That's why your speedo goes up. When i did my engine install my slave needed to be bled even though i didnt touch it. I bled the slave and everything was back to normal.

Bleed your slave and if you still have a problem than your in trouble.