Thanks for everyone's links about my problem shifting into 1st and 2nd.  I
noticed that the boots were missing around the shifter ball (
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1348_332/shift_lever.html )  and
ordered that and the boots before I headed up to North Jersey to have the
clutch put in. I basically had no 1st gear on the way up so if I was glad we
were replacing the clutch too! Nothing like driving through NY suburban rush
hour  with no 1st gear.   It turned out the linkage was a mess around that
ball so after he installed it the linkage was nice and tight again.

I did not mess around and I installed this clutch
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=028141999HD and a new
resurfaced flywheel.

Feels like a new van...

Thanks,
Bryan