Could be 1st gear synchro be going out? I also adjusted the clutch and have about an inch of travel.
1" of free travel, this means nothing, you need to know what the airgap clearance is on the clutch, 1st and reverse engagement or lack of it can usually be attributed to the airgap being too small for complete engine/drive line disengagement until the rpms are extremely low enough to allow you to forcefully engage a gear, esp 1st
A diaphram clutch spec is approx .030
A Borg/Beck aprox .050
IMHO, the prior use of ATF may also lead to the untimely demise of your 4 spd also
Your clutch mfg should have a specific air gap requirement
