"NG 10 Years" competition: RESULTS !!!https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?topic=11252.0Current status: 89/150 supporters
Impressive work Rick! As you state; Don't disassemble it unless you absolutely need to do it
How do you overhaul the black painted surface of the lens barrel?It seems you are able to remove scratches and marks?
A damp toothbrush is great for cleaning out fine details like aperture markings and values.
https://richardhaw.com/2021/10/10/repair-zoom-nikkor-50-300mm-f-4-5-ed-ai/