[olddog]

When your not touching the clutch pedal, springs should pull the pedal to the top, and the through out bearing should not touch the pressure plate. In other words when set up properly, the TO bearing does not touch or turn unless your pressing on the clutch pedal. So either something is not set up correctly (and will fail again, if not corrected) or the problem you describe is not the TO bearing.

Tranny should slide out. Perhaps something is gummed up on the shaft. Maybe some light prying is needed. Or try working the clutch. It may push the tranny out (two person job). Been so long since I pulled a tranny, I'm not much help.

I assume from your description that it is not a hydraulic TO, in which case there are hydraulic lines that has to be removed.