The all new Nikon Z9 has made its entrance with a big loud bang - Read all about it here
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/