This is what i found when i disassembled my clutch in preparation for my th400.I know the instructions say 500 miles of stop and go driving, but that would take me 3 year with as many mile as i put on this car. What do drag racers do? I can guarentee they don't drive them on the street, stop and go for 500 miles. Clutch was adjusted properly too. Now I know what that burning smell was on the return road when i did race it at the strip, 1 TIME!!

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/SMS/Picture002.jpg

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/SMS/Picture001.jpg

The problem with those DF clutches is the fact that you're using a metal to metal contact on the pressure plate side of the disc. That in itself is the reason you need to break it in. Think of it like your cam, rings, etc. trying to break in. Needs to be done. I've run CF II clutches in the past with great results. In trucks that towed daily, even. Difference between them is the disc itself is only semi-metallic on both sides. Same pressure plate as the DF.

As far as racers, I don't know how many actually run the DF clutch in a race only application. I'd think not too many, as there are better clutches out there for serious applications. I know the 5.0 guys loved them, but they were street driven in most cases. Next time, try a proper break in, or go with a Borg & Beck 3200lb pressure plate and a bronze puck disc. ;)

BTW, your clutch isn't all that bad looking, IMO. Deep heat cracks in the flywheel and pp, I'd start to worry.

mine looked the same way after a few hundred miles also and NO track time... i replaced it with the Ram clutch when i put in the TKO, and when i had th flywheel surfaced the heat marks cleaned up with next to nothing needing to be taken off the surface so it seamed superficial...

That looks normal to me, but I haven't seen thousands, like some of the clutch guys around here. Maybe Jody or Wally will chime in.

I don't really know if its normal or not either, havent really seen too many clutches apart before. It worked well though, no chatter or anything.

I have the same clutch behind a 454 w/3.31's. I did NOT follow break-in cause I couldn't help my self. However, the clutch has 2000 abused miles. No problems at all. Then again, I don't have good traction.

Now the vibration those weights create, thats a different story.