[Lynn Eades]

Richie the shaft is a bigger dia. at the end to tighten it up as it arrives home. I'm wondering. Does your gbox have thrust washers at each end of the cluster, or just one? (or none?) If it has two, try assembling it without the front one? See what happens now? Try tapping the shaft back, so that it is against the location plate. In 1963 the Eng. Ford industrial engines (equiped with manual 4 speed) had two thrusts, both the same part number. Does that help at all?