Long story short:
My shifting was getting stiffer over the course of two weeks. I suspected my clutch. A local shop took it for a test drive, and said the clutch needed replacing. After replacing it, it turned out that the shifting problems were due to the transmission, which was replaced. Now the shifting is fine. The shop manager said the clutch was definitely dead, and he knew it was because the clutch was slipping. This was not my experience. He did show me the clutch briefly (At least I assume it was my removed clutch...) and the cluch surface was worn down all the way to the brass studs. I don't know much- I just need to double check. Does this mean the clutch was toast? Or could it be worn to the brass studs and still have life in it?
thanks, Anthony