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I have this question in my other post about my engine overhaul adventure but I thought I'd post it here also to pose it to a larger audience.
When I pulled the engine away from the transmission last night I found pieces of thin sheet metal, kind of like a gasket but made out of sheet metal. I know I put these pieces here 40+ years ago but I don't remember why. If I put them in it was because my dad told me to do it. He was a very good mechanic and worked on these trucks when they were still being used for daily work. He must have had a reason for having install them. He passed away about 30 years ago so I can't ask him. They look like they were cut out of metal used for a sign or some kind of packaging. I can't see them working as a gasket, just don't see how they would seal. I'm guessing some kind of shim? The were between the hogshead and the clutch bellhousing.
I can't think how that would help anything. It would move the release bearing back from the clutch, a small amount admittedly. If the clutch was worn badly the fingers would be back further than normal, so it might help keep them from dragging on the release bearing. Did your dad have a habit of riding the clutch? Personally I think I'd leave it out when you put it back together.
I've never seen anything between the clutch housing and the transmission halfbell. Tolerances are loose enough that a shim that thickness wouldn't really change anything. I don't see where it would be necessary.
I know the parts were new when I installed them. It's just weird, I'm trying think back 40+ years ago and why I would have put these in the truck. I wish my dad was around, maybe he would remember.
At times working on this truck is like an archeological dig. I find things I did 40 years, some are kind of interesting especially the parts I installed without having the sheet metal installed and now I find it difficult to access. I've also found a few items that make me wonder what the hell 19 year old me was thinking. Like this.
I wish my dad was around, maybe he would remember. 
Like this.
