as far as the extension from the rear case, we did exactly what you are talking about. we did have to bend the extension a few times to get it right though.

The front cross member will need to be worked over or replaced. My crossmember is gone and a new one is adapted to the adaptor that holds the two cases together.

The rear yoke on the front t case is what was leaking on mine. To eliminate this, I just stacked another seal on the back of the existing one. No leaks since. Chad cut the threaded part of the shaft off so his second case would slide further over the existing shaft, his also has no leaks.