For item #4 -
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/15-tips-improve-727-torqueflite-trans/"On the left is A&A’s Ultimate Steel Drum. Unlike the cast-iron stock unit with its deformable stamped metal retainer ring (right), the Ultimate Drum (PN 22555BSWR) is machined from a chunk of 4140 steel billet and has been spin tested to 32,000 rpm. The stock drum explodes above 12,840 rpm. Why is this important? If the over running clutch/sprag fails (see above), this front drum is instantly accelerated to twice the speed of the crankshaft. So if the tachometer reads 6,000 rpm when the stock sprag fails, the spinning drum accelerates to 12,000 rpm, the edge of disintegration."
It doesn't take horsepower for a drum to fail, it takes RPM's. If you've ever seen the results of a drum explosion or if you like your feet, get a billet drum. I have a steel one but I can not speak to the pro's or con's of steel vs aluminum. I'm sure someone here will know.
