Doug--thanks for the reply. The rebuild kit came with 4 identical new brass stop rings. I studied them carefully before determining they were identical. They fit perfectly and are the same as the old ones EXCEPT they have 3 pairs of slots cut into the inner surface, each pair midway between the raised bosses on the outside of the ring. I presume these are designed to fit a different version of the trans, but their presence will not affect mine. Sound correct?? I am glad to report that the nose of my mainshaft looks like it just came from the factory. Your nose looks like it sat at the bottom of a lake for 10 years.
As I disassemble and examine this trans, I wonder if it has been rebuilt before. Several of the gears show scratches and tiny nicks, but the roller bearings appear new, and there is no wear on the shafts. When I separated the mainshaft from the drive gear there was a single roller bearing inside the drive gear, but none missing from the cluster of 16 rollers which the support the mainshaft nose. The reverse idler gear has nicks in every cog indicating a cover bolt that was about 0.0030" too long. Finally, the gaskets appear to be in too good a condition to be 30 years old. PS, the big bearing on the drive gear shows no sign of wear--very tight and smooth.
