Success!
 

Starter motor is on and trans filled, also freshened the TC and Fr/Rr diffs. The noise is gone and the transmission shifts nice and smooth. The SES is now off, no idea why, maybe because the battery was disconnected?

It took me much longer than expected as the parts were slow in arriving and the day they got here I had to head out on a biz trip overseas. Got back last night and got things zipped back together this morning.

I also installed a new coolant tank but now it is time to get to the valley pan. Unfortunately I am on the road almost continuously for next two weeks and doubt I can get much done.