It was just the way they did it.  He seemed sure of himself, and checked
the level.  He knew I was watching, and said "few people actually ask
for that".

I honestly forget from my oil changes and crap where *exactly* that plug
is, I don't usually look there.  I don't remember seeing a plug on the
bottom, though.

I don't know what the fluid looks like, but my synchros are wearing ever
further down, and I thought it might be a good "while it's in there,
been 50k more" thing.

I am trying to get as many miles outta this sucker as I can, so I can
put all the $ I'd send to a bank on a newer car into my '67 Mustang.
Thought it might be cheap insurance.

BTW,

HA!  Good question.  It's a lifetime alignment Firestone foolishly
offered to this Tempo owner six years ago.  And one they have done 5 or
6 of them by now...  BANG, hit a pothole, get it checked!

Yeah, he mentioned that as an equivalent - "like an automatic".  I
thought, "but it's a stick" and was late to get back to work so I left,
a bit confused.  I have also only owned two automatics in the past 17
years, both as "one-year" cars.  And they were up in the 125 - 150k
range so I didn't even think of it as long as the level was full hot.