Brian Sculpher

I fear from your description that what you may have is a sheered pin (p/n 158777) in the fork of your clutch cross shaft, this is an achilles heel item in the drive train of the TR's. They have a habit of breaking with only part of it remaining in place but allowing a greater rotation of the cross shaft inside the release bearing fork. This in turn means the fork is not able to apply full pressure to the release bearing & hence the clutch driven plate  is barely released which is why you are crunching in the two lowest gears - first & reverse.

Sorry to say that is a gearbox out situation.

There are now new hardened pins available but most of us also cross drill the release fork & shaft & fit a spring dowel to put it into a double sheer situation.

P.s. the clutch slave rod should engage in the centre hole - or at least it does on my TR4's & we tend to share the same mechanics at this point.

Appreciate your help on this one - noted gearbox out job.

Graham Vaggers was also copied in on your post - who I understand you are familiar with.

Many thanks for your useful comments

Brian S

Aah excellent, Yes I know Graham, he will have a good knowledge of the issue I'm referring to.

Best of luck with getting it sorted