[Vwdiesel] clutch pushrod question

[Dave]

Hi,

      Yesterday I took the 82 Rabbit diesel on the road. I had driven around the neighborhood and decided that it was time to take the car for a drive out in the country and get up to highway speed. I started shifting up through the gears and I noticed the clutch was slipping bad. I got it up to 55 mph and decided it was time to head home, things weren't right. I turned around and I noticed smoke and clutch wear smell coming out from the hood. I got it home, but I couldn't get the car over 35 mph. 
     This morning I took off the transmission and pulled off the clutch. It didn't look that badly worn. I have ordered a new clutch and pressure plate that I will pick up later this afternoon to put it back together. 
    When I put the whole thing together a few months ago pushing in the clutch was really hard, it took a lot of oomph with your leg. I thought that it was probably because it had been so long since it had been operated. After telling you all of this here's the question? I have the transaxle on the floor of the garage and when I pull on the clutch lever the clutch rod move's in very little. Is there a certain length it's supposed to push in when you pull the lever?  When I grab the rod it slides in and out of the transaxle fine.  I'll have a new clutch and pressure plate. What should I look at on the flywheel besides obvious scarring or blueing from overheating.

Thanks

Dave