Short end of the story:

I pulled an ACT 6 puck Unsprung disc and a Spec-II pressure plate from the FD two weekends ago. The input shaft from the transmission and the clutch disc were both stripped. The input shaft wasn't completely rounded off but surely not reusable.
I installed another Exedy Triple disc setup with a new pilot bearing, seal, throwout bearing,etc with another transmission.

coming to my current problem:
I'm having almost the exact same issue with this clutch setup after two weeks.
When the clutch pedal is being pushed in, this horrid grinding noise is coming from the clutch, however, the noise stops once pushed in all the way. If I attempt to put the car in gear and let out the clutch - it'll grind something awful.
I'm not sure what I'll be looking at once I yank the trans but I fear it's the same issue. I haven't hit more than 10psi or so on the new clutch & trans.
Clutch is brand new, trans came from another car of mine and worked flawlessly.

I can't speak for the last owner of this car but I'm 100% sure the car was driven hard. Car has 50k on chassis, 2k on engine - 72mm turbo, AEM ems,etc. It was my daily driver until this..

any ideas?

 

dying hydraulics, maybe?

 

When you push the clutch in, are you sure that the slave is working right? I would try a different slave.

 

bad pilot bearing.

the symptoms were unlike the typical but its a pilot bearing for sure.