If you move the starter/ring gear and mounting pads forward 5/8" won't you have to put a spacer on your starter so that the starter drive gear doesn't overshoot the ring gear??
No, both the pads and the ring gear are 5/8" too deep into the transmission right now. It's actually in 3/4" with the converter all the way in against the pump with the transmission standing on the tailshaft (dropped it in and rotated it until I got the three clunks), but I have to take away 1/8 to 3/16" to allow the recommended freeplay.