Reply to "Input shaft 1st / ring and pinion set pictures"

Cayman, you need a ZF Overhaul manual before you start trying to work on the gearbox or buy parts. These are available from several vendors quite cheaply. A total overhaul on a junk ZF can run $11,000 depending on what's worn out. The long input shaft might be $2400. ZFs are very complex transaxles; new parts are only available from RBT who bought the rights to that gearbox from ZF, and there is no adjustment anywhere: all clearances are the result of selective parts fits or specialized shims. One cannot replace only a ring gear without replacing the matching pinion gear as well. The synchronizer 'blocker' rings are steel and wear each time one shifts. These cannot usually be replaced without also replacing the gear-cones they wear against.... and those are integral to a gear which is matched to the other gear in the pair. So a simple 'synchro-fix' usually includes both the driving gear and the driven gear as well as the ring- for $1200 or so. Some others have used parts available but they may be as worn (or worse) than what you already have. Get the manual, educate yourself and you may find that what you have is not exactly a gearbox, but a collection of worn but useable 40-year-old spare parts.