Ok, the stock clutch was taken out at 40K miles by an oil leak from the back of the oil pan under the rear main seal (but not from the rear main seal). Oil ran down that beveled lip on the clutch inspection plate and got on the flywheel then the clutch. The inside of the bellhoushing was caked with oil.

As an aside, are you folks seeing lots more leaks with the use of synthetic fluids?

Now, new Mcleod Kevlar is going in with new flywheel. I have replaced rear main seal (just for fun) along with replacing the oil pan gasket and sealing it with a fair bit of RTV. I also replaced the gasket between the rear main seal housing and the engine block and hit it with a bit of RTV (the bolts were only finger tight when I removed it).

I want the collective wisdom of the group as to whether it is a good idea to cut off that lip on the clutch inspection plate in order to prevent (I hope) any potential future oil leak from the pan from making its way onto the flywheel by trickling down that tin lip on the inspection plate.

Good idea, or will it expose the rear main seal to too much road grime, etc.?

Thanks for the input.