Once read an article about setting the end play of a LT77 and thought I Bookmarked it, but I guess I didn't. The article claimed excessive end play killed many a LT77. Thought while I have the car apart, I would set it up, but I can't find the article again. It's nice that T5's are so adaptable, but I will wait for the LT77 to go bad before I spend money and time replacing it.
Found it, it was: Page 61 of "How to Give Your MGB V8 Power"
By Roger Williams
End play is bad on these things. Real common for that front bearing to overheat and seize onto the shaft. Most common on long highway trips. Seen it happen half a dozen times on cars that are somewhere around 100 miles from home. My guess is that over time fluid leaks out and you get a low. The front bearing doesn't see enough fluid and overheats. Could also be a pump going bad. I've heard it described as driving along when the car starts to feel down on power. Pull over and then it seizes solid. Replaced a gear box that did that in my buddies TR8 a couple of summers ago. Same thing has happened on 2 of my Dad's SD1s.