I picked up a spare M46 tranny from a 1982 242DL non-turbo. I don't know how to store it until I install it. Here are my questions (any other ideas are also welcome):

Because of garage space limitations, is it ok to put the tranny face down (ie the clutch/engine side facing down?

I know that unused units can suffer from rust due to vapor condensations. I live in a foggy area near a beach. Should I overfill the tranny with tranny fluid, or remove all tranny fluid and leave the drain plugs open?

Is it a good idea to put wheel bearing grease on the output shaft and input shaft?

I see several cracks of varying lengths and in different directions in the inside of the manual transmission where it faces the clutch and engine. Is that normal or anything to worry about?

The M46 is an upgrade for me, as I have an M45 in my car. Removing the wiring took almost as long as removing the transmission itself. If I can't get the wiring straight, can I use the tranny without the overdrive installed?

Thanks in advance!