Parts fell out on a test drive

[oldstuffrunsbetter]

I'm working on a 1964 Chevy half ton with a 6 cylinder and a 3 speed on the column:

I've been tuning up my poorly running 6 cylinder 230 over the last few days. I've been getting a few issues corrected. So tonight, I decided to try a test run out on the road. Problems occurred:

So I'm running 45mph down the 4 lane highway when I hear a "ker-chunk", and see a part bouncing after me in my rear view mirror. I didn't quite know if I had lost a part, or if it's a wrench I had forgotten to remove from the engine compartment, or if it was a piece of trash I ran over. Well, of course, it was a part off the truck.

At the stop light, I push in on the clutch. Uh oh - no clutch. It goes right to the floor, and nothing disengages. I manage to come to a stop, and kill the engine on the side of the road.

So yeah - It turns out to be a part of the clutch linkage - the threaded adjustment rod that pushes on the transmission yoke. I was able to dodge traffic and run back and find my part on the road. I crammed it back in place, and limped home in first gear.

I don't know what holds this piece in other than spring tension on the pedal return. Are there any clips?

Also, when I found my part in the middle of this 4 lane highway and put it back where it belonged, it seemed to go in too easy. It was about 1 inch out of adjustment. My pedal nearly went to the floor, and what clutch I did have left seemed to be way overly sensitive.

So what the heck happened? Why did this thing fall out? Could there be another cause as to why this fell out?

Long post. Long story. Thanks for listening. -Dan