Thanks Buc and Tubs, using some of both of your gasket making ideas I was able to make a good gasket for this motor. I was also able to get the propshaft thrust plug out…sprayed carb and choke cleaner in the bushing to clean it well and found it to turn freely. Then took a large allen wrench …put good thick sticky wheel brg grease on the end stuck it in and the plug and two .015 shims out. The plug is a black plastic material and the shims were copper. The OD of the plug is .558 and the thickness is .095 ….I can prolly find some shim material and cut some but not sure about the plug….Buc…is that something I could hire you to make a couple for me or should I check around my area? I don’t have a lathe or the expertise to do something like that. I put the plug and shims in my original gearcase and cut the propshaft endplay WAY down…at least in half. I don’t have my dial gauges here at home so I will check it out next week at work.
