When is a 904 too small?

Here's the deal on the 904 third gear clutch: The plates are thicker than the forward plates even tho they're the same size. Plus the thirds have grooves. The thickness and the grooves are to dissipate heat. And when you buy a Red Eagle overhaul pack they come with four thick grooved clutches for third. Grooves take up 20% of the surface. Thing is; reds in third can be thin and smooth because they can take the heat. You can run five frictions in the direct pack if you run the thin reds. SO-- if you run a 998 or 999 drum with 5 plates, you can actually put six in there. 4 smooths will be equal to 5 grooved. Grooves in a red eagle clutch are redundant. I buy reds ten at a time; all smooth thins. If your trans has a lot of end play and a worn third gear drum bushing, the rings will round off and leak. Set the end play at .010 with the trans ice cold. When it warms up, it will expand another .050. IF you follow the factory guidelines, your trans will have over .100 end play when hot. I want to try to run a 500 pump and direct drum in a 904 because it has two drum bushings; excessive end play won't cause it to wobble. Who's already dunnit?