[Paul Workman]

Q on the beam plates: If the beam plates are used, I would suspect that the issue with cold flowing (denoted by the ridge build-up around the circumference of the washers under the nuts - primarily on aluminum parts or parts with significant thrust forces applied) wouldn't be and issue as the plates are steel; the nuts/washers do not rest directly on the aluminum C-beam, but rather the beam is sandwiched between the steel plates and the transmission...Right?

Those are some BIG bolts (fastening the C-beam to the trans and differential housings). I "leaned on torque wrench" a bit more than the stock recommendation intended for aluminum C-beams w/o steel plates. The shifter has never budged (risen) in 10+ years FWIW.