sloppy Z bar linkage.....probably pilot error

Hey FABO!
Doing a shake down on a friends new 67 Dart and smoked the clutch pretty good. Dual disc Mcleod (diaphram) and quick time scatter, A833 and Z bar. It seems like not enough travel in Z bar and it hits the starter when the clutch is fully engaged although I believe it prevents full engagement. Right now my goals are to make the pedal come all the way up and get engage/disengage in the middle of throw of the pedal vs at the bottom where it is now. The linkage that goes through the fire wall and the bottom of the Z bar to push rod has mucho slop on both ends due to the holes being slotted. Are there bushings on the ends? Should there be this much play in the system? I feel like grinding the starter on the corner it hits on a little bit/ tightening up that slop with rod ends for adjustment and possibly playing with the pivot of clutch fork along with a longer throwout bearing are my solutions to consider.....

What do you think?