"Hope is tomorrow's veneer over today's disappointment."

 I pulled the axles off of the 'rebuilt' transmission from the local shop that took 6 months to rebuild the transmission.  I tilted it up on its side and this nice dirty gear oil came out.

Turns out my 'hunch' that they didn't actually rebuilt the transmission might have been correct.

Both transmissions are ready for packaging and shipment to California for a rebuild.  I'm sending two and will receive one in return-rebuilt correctly and completely all the way to the backing plates.  When I get it back, I'll add the new brake parts and roller wheels.  I'm hoping to have the rear suspension triangle back together by then so I can pop it back in its final resting place with the engine.

The pan should follow about a month after the transmission returns from its visit in California.