Working with 1987 4runner, 4 cylinder, 5 speed transmission. I had my mechanic look at this last week and of course the truck seemed just fine at the shop. Anyway when the clutch gets fully depressed it will make a grinding noise every now and then, also the starter [?] seems to make noise sometimes when the clutch is depressed during normal driving. The only things I can think off is that it's either the starter somehow wanting to engage or the throwout bearing. Any opinions?

Any noise that's grinding is not good news. Can you spare it for a couple of days and let your mechanic drive it around? Maybe he can get it to make the noise for him and find the answer. Better now, than when things really start getting ugly.

ever checked your clutch pedal free play?

I truly doubt its your starter. It's likely your tranny, possibly a main bearing that joins up to your clutch-plate.

This is not beyond a home mechanic. If you are able to drop your tranny, you can fix it.

:) Is it even proper to suggest someone "drop their tranny?" I've been slapped for less.

Seriously, this is not for a beginner, though. You need to know something about what you are doing or you will end up making a bigger mess than you started with.