Inspection of a 904 torqueflite

What makes you think that's a low gear set?? Maybe you should concentrate on fixing your transmission to stock without screwing it up. The usual experts aren't chiming in because they're just lurking back and shaking their heads after reading some of the strangest advice they've ever seen; spending $105 on a rebuild kit, replacing the tailshaft bushing, standing the trans on the output shaft, . I see a lot of first timers trying to do a bang up job; just to end up with $500 worth of incompatible junk. You spend hours measuring perfectly good thrust washers yet you want to use a flaked band.
If you look in my profile you will see many pics of my rollerized drag race 904. All done myself. I am hardly a first timer. Rebuild the 47re in my diesel Cummings as well. Works fine.
Measuring thrust washers with a caliper or micrometer is absolutely the correct way to inspec them. That is why the thickness are listed in a repair manual. I agree the band is so so condition.