I found the problem. When I was reassembling my main-shaft assembly I installed the 2nd speed gear backwords on the main shaft. This limited the travel of the 1st/reverse gear so I was unable to install the main shaft. Thank God for that, imagine if I was able to install the main shaft assembly with this gear reversed. I would not even have found out until I was trying to shift into 2nd for the first time! Anyway with the 2nd speed gear installed correctly it dropped right into place. I have been able to do this entire rebuild w/o an arbor press. I used gear pullers, slide hammer, brass drift punches, hammers, and I even used my harmonic balancer installation tool to install the rear main shaft bearing. I am not quite done yet, since I had to pack it in to go to a birthday party at a friends house. It's hard to leave when things are going well in the garage.

Here some pics of the rebuild:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/546614518/2646378880052948230tEJbXV

Jim