Setting up a 489 with Richmond gears

Without a pinion depth tool it is going to be a crap shoot. 2.763 is right in the ball park that most of them are. Shimming behind the pinion race is a way to get around pressing the bearing off and on. A better way is to buy or make a set up bearing by honing it larger so it just slides on and off. I invested in the T&D pinion depth tool many years ago and have used it many times. Good Luck