The second go it shifts perfectly so I packed the shift shaft housing with hi temp grease and RTV'd the cover and set it in place. Tomarrow my galon of 80/90 lucas comes from the oriley's warehouse and I'll wrestle this thing back in.
As for the tranny that came out of mine, the first thing I noticed is that it had a rattle, and sure enough in the main gearset chamber there was a little bolt setting out in the open, judging from the flared base and size (10mm) it is the same as what I can see from the gearset side of the differential, just in front of the final drive assembly, though mine is not missing any, it must be from deeper inside the transmission, surely it has nothing to do with 3rd & 4th but it most likely explains why it stuck in gear.
When I crack it open I'll find many interesting things to share.
also my clutch looked like it had some life left in it so I degreased it and the pressure plates and reinstalled.

loose bolt

