Update:
My prospective clutch deal fell through, so last night I ordered an Action 1KS Clutch kit, and an ACT Streetlite flywheel. Hopefully it'll be here either Saturday or Monday at the latest.
I can idle my car in gear right now without pressing the clutch in and it won't choke down. It's like driving an auto with a 4,000rpm stall convertor.
I've been looking for aluminum plates to use as the manifold adapter, and most of my findings are more than I want to spend. ($120+ for a 1' x 2' piece) I have found one site where I can order a 12" x 18" 3/8" 5052-H32 Aluminum Plate for $49, but I'm lazy and haven't measured the length of the flange yet. I also found a site that sells plastic and poly carbonate plates. I can order a 12" x 24" sheet of 1/2" UHMW plastic for $24.
One description that I've found states the characteristics of this plastic:
"Ultra High Molecular Weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) is an engineering thermoplastic with a molecular weight of greater than 3.1 million AMUs (atomic mass units). The high molecular weight enhances a number of important physical properties, not the least of which are outstanding abrasion resistance, high impact strength and a low coefficient of friction. In addition, the polymer has good chemical resistance, excellent sound dampening characteristics, superior dielectric and electrical insulating properties and it doesn’t absorb moisture."
A high temp version is available that is rated up to 280 degrees, but at this point I'm not sure that's going to be enough. The research continues...