turned out a new bushing on the lathe, twice, took a few too many thousandths off the first time.
dealer wanted like $130 for a 5th &reverse fork, so i just took the mig and some aluminum wire and welded it up and ground out what i needed for the button to fit in.
got the trans together, in and bolted up, discovered the spider gears were a tooth off and could only get one axle in....had to pull it back out and split the case and take everything out and re-position the gears.
put it back in, installed everything, fired it up, took it around the block, back into the garage over the pit, decided to check for leaks....just how good my luck is, rear main started decided to leak, wtf!?
so i had to take everything back apart, and put in a rear seal, wile i was at it took the oil pan off and re-goobered that up to make sure it wouldn't leak. i decided to just install a clutch disc only instead of a kit, why spend the extra money and still have it all face against a flywheel that needs turning? so $20 instead of $110. kinda tricky to center a clutch without a centering tool, but i managed to get it lined up 3 different times on the first shot
got the trans mounted against the block, forgot the put in the tin shield between the two, mother F-er!! had to take it out and flywheel back off. and recenter the clutch again,
took care of more vacuum leaks, purrs like a kitten now. shifts alot nicer, as now it acutally has the detents, as before the stick would just stay where i left it, would never center itself when out of gear.
jesus, what a weekend.
but i told everyone i would win.