Clutch Question

[Lobo'74]

My '67 has a '79 350 and a '79 3 speed so I am going out on a limb and assuming it also has a '79 clutch.

Driving today I heard a "ping" sound, and the next time I pushed the clutch pedal in there was almost no feel at all until the clutch pedal was almost at full throw and the clutch was actuated. This is now the current state of the clutch pedal.

When I got home I felt along the top of the clutch pedal assy (under the dash) and found a small hole at the top of the clutch pedal lever. I also found a small hole on a metal assy forward (towards the firewall) of that. Obviously a spring COULD go there to pull the clutch pedal back into place. BUT, I found no spring in the cab.

Looking in an '80 - '87 repair manual I see that the clutch fork has a return spring. Looks to be down by the lever and shaft assy in the engine compartment about cab floor level, driver's side. There is also a retainer spring listed on the diagram. Both appear to be in place but I'm stuck until I get someone in the cab to depress the clutch while I look under the hood.

My gut feeling is that there is an unseen problem with the fork return spring. Any helpful comments out there?