Well what a day. Bearing arrived after lunch. I figured I'd go an do what I could. I have been muttering f****g Yodel in my sleep and grinding my teeth again.
Got up to the unit about 13.00 to heaps of snow. Fitted the bearing (properly) and got the gearbox on the jack under the truck. My mate was in hos unit next door and had offered to lend a hand. I had dropped the back of the engine as much as I dared to give us a good angle. We pushed it up as far as we could on the jack and I suggested we gave it all four hands, a big grunt, slight twist and a push. 1 2 3 and bugger me it went straight on. Right onto the dowels in one. less than a minute I kid you not. Epic. Bolts went straight in. By half four, I had the gearbox bolted up, the cross member in, ARM back on, transfer box on, rear prop on some of the connections. Just starter, front prop, battery and diff locks to connect, fill with oil and bash plate back on in the morning and I am done. I have almost caught up. And the clutch feels great.
I decided to just go for it with the T box. I put it next to me, rolled over, gave it a kiss, held it to my chest, rolled onto my back and bench pressed it straight up and on in one. I am as thrilled as a person who is really thrilled. Other than the wait for the release bearing, this has truly gone without a hitch. I wouldn't do another I don't think, not on the ground, but at least I can say I have done it. Now it's fingers crossed in the hope it's a good gearbox. Bit of fiddling to refit the sticks and console tray but once that's done I shall be mobile again.