lightbndr, I would appreciate some input on this.
Today was a fricking nightmare working on this thing. I got it all put together but had way too much end play. I didn't have any leftover parts but I took it apart and verified that every thrust washer, snap ring, etc. was in and in the right place according to the drawings. Still too much end play. I searched around the web and found a post on another forum where a guy had the same problem. It ended up being a difference in output shaft lengths between two transmissions that he was combining. (Same model transmissions, just big machine tolerance.) So I measured the lengths of the two that I had and sure enough, there was about .1" difference between them! (That's pretty major when total end play is supposed to max out at .091"!) The problem was that I was using the longer one already. Since end play is set by the space between the input and output shafts I checked my input shaft lengths since I had also swapped those. I had 4 input shafts laying around and there was .2" difference between the longest and shortest! So now my problem is that the selective endplay bushings are not made thick enough for me to achieve satisfactory end play. For lack of guidance I decided to just use two stacked bushings, which do fit, and after putting it back together I have great end play! Do you think there is a better solution to this?
So after that I proceed to set the band adjustments. Front band adjusted OK but the rear / reverse / low band requires so much adjustment that I run out of threaded stud to even tighten it! I know that's not right so I start taking it apart again when I see a part number written on it. I figured I would check Mike's website just in case to make sure it's the right band. SURE AS **** HE SENT THE THE WRONG DAMN BAND!!!! It's too big. So now I have to tear it all down again to install the right one.
I also got a $700 custom converter in for it and the builder built it with the wrong spline count DESPITE me telling him like 52 times to make it 26 spline!!!!
This trans build is going on a month now.