fixing my 8 3/4, advice please

If you go that route make sure to do a couple of things before you take it apart. Measure your backlash with a dial indicator on the ring and pinion, write that number down. Mark the caps so you put them back on the same side and the same orientation. I would also suggest getting a new pinion bearing, remove the old one carefully and hone it out just enough so it will slip on and off for ease of set up (adding/removing shims).

Once you have all of that, then you can proceed to setting it up using the bearing you honed out. Once you have everything right press on the new bearing and reassemble. Get the backlash as close to where it was when you started. Double check your pattern, put it back together and have a blast.