I have not used any parts bought in the last year but I build my own toploaders for my vintage road race car. I have bought gears from most all suppliers and they all come in the same box!!! If you can find Ford gears where the dog teeth on 2nd and 3rd aren't used up that is the way to go. The same if you have Ford synchro sliders that aren't used up. Generally 1st and 4th are in good shape. I have been running the same toploader, in my roadrace car, for two years now with no trouble (offshore parts). However, I consider 2nd, 3rd, brass synchro rings, synchro sliders and cluster gear shaft as consumables!!
As far as a street driven toploader I abuse my road race transmission more in one weekend of racing than I have the toploaders in two Mustangs that I have owned more than 50 years!
Certainly original Ford parts are the best way to go in my opinion. If you can find gears where the dog teeth aren't buggered too bad you can dress them with a stone and with a good slider it will shift like a new one.
Who knows how many different manufacturers supply offshore toploader parts.
