1998 Grand Am (2.4) Clutch Bleeding Nightmare.

Ive replaced the entire system. The slave, the line and the CMC. It seems to gravity bleed fine — I get a decent pedal — but then after a few full pumps of the pedal you can feel it losing pressure and then it sticks to the floor and a few short quick strokes bring the pedal back somewhat but any full pumps and the pedal wont return. Ive rinsed and repeated this so many times Im about to go insane. Common sense says this car should gravity bleed but I just keep getting air in the system. Ive done a ‘pressure test’ of the line and CMC by removing the line at the slave — using a plug to seal the line — and after bleeding the CMC + line a couple times the pedal was rock hard and not fading at all so I figure the CMC and line are fine. Those two components bled fairly easily but when I hooked the line back up to the slave its the same story. Gravity bleed until there are no bubbles, 20 short strokes on the pedal, gravity bleed at the slave again. Then the above happens again. Im not letting the reservior go dry either.

The only thing I can think of is that my brand new slave wont bleed for some unknown reason or is allowing air into the system somehow without showing any leaks. I really need another perspective. Ive tried almost every bleeding method to no avail — sans reverse bleeding. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.