RE: steel spur..?
tron, if you are melting spurs it's probably due to clutch slippage, producing heat, melting your gears. I've had a few different engines in my truck, some pretty strong, and haven't had a problem with the plastic gears. I would definetely try the aluminum shoes before I invested the money in steel spurs. Many people, myself included, are leery of the steel gears because of what you mentioned, possibly hurting something further along the drivetrain. Hope this helps.