Thanks for your input guys.
I am being told by fellas that sell and rebuild these that:
* It's not a screw in stud, the 5/16-18 threads are part of the shaft, and the shaft is hardened steel.
* The tail housing cannot be put back onto the transmission while the transmission is in the truck, due to a "spring and ball" arrangement inside the tail housing.
At least I'm learning alot
