It sure sounds to me like your pilot bearing is bad.  It's the one in the
crankshaft that the transmission shaft rides in.  It can make noises such as
you describe and it can  fail to where it grabs the shaft giving a sensation
like the clutch has been let out.  It can also damage the shaft that rides
in it .... approximately a $100.00 part.

Another possibility is the throwout bearing.  Either way, the transmission
has to be removed.

Both the pilot bearing and the throwout bearing should be replaced with a
regular clutch job.

Mike

> Hi Folks -
>
> I wondered if anyone can comment on a problem I am having - I hate to go
> seek repair without some general idea of what is going on so I don't get
> ripped off. I'm thinking clutch, but since I haven't ever had one go on me
> before, I'm not sure.
>
> I have an '85 with a manual transmission.  For a while (and seems to be
> getting worse) when I am stopped at a light the van in gear and the clutch
> in, something in the rear begins to growl.  If I take it out of gear, it
> seems to be fine, and when engaged at any speed in any gear, everything is
> normal.  This "growl" only seems to happen when I'm in gear (any gear),
and
> I'm standing still with the clutch in.
>
> Any comments would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.
>
> MW