time for a new clutch !

I bit the bullet and ordered a LUK clutch kit, picked it up the next day at my local Pepboys for about $120. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! You can clearly see how the LUK pressure plate fingers are just a tad longer and make better contact with the surface of the bearing. PLUS, the LUK bearing is on a cast iron sleeve, the Chinese one is mounted to a plastic sleeve.
Sorry Rockauto, the Chinese one is getting returned to you.
Unfortunately, the engine is still in the machine shop, and I've got a front suspension to overhaul, so I won't be able to report on this setup for a while. Hopefully I remember and will report back.