wierd clutch problem

I am helping a friend with his 1975 CJ5. He wanted me to replace his clutch which has been replaced twice in 1500 miles. The springs in the center of the clutch disc are being ripped out. After removing the clutch we replaced the flywheel, pressure plate and the throwout bearing and the throw out bearing arm. When I removed the old flywheel i found a 3/8" thick spacer that had been placed there at sometime earlier and was homemade. After installing the transmission the throw out bearing arm moves several inches before making contact with the throw out bearing. There is no room for the arm to move to operate the pressure plate. All the parts were ordered from the same parts house by the vin#. Any idea on what the problem might be????????

 

Missing pivot ball behind the clutch fork or possibly clutch plate installed backwards, or both?