The popping/clashing wasn't the old JY auto hub locks, and it wasn't the t-case I ran dry. I don't know how I did this, and to only 3 of the 4 gears. There were NO symptoms the last time I knocked any trees down or jerked one out (over a month & 200 miles ago). I noticed some popping when I left my neighborhood one day, but it drove fine all that day. Then the next time I tried to go somewhere, it was undrivable.
See the NEXT few pics, and these:

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