The pics show my completed franken-hammonding of this saw- new rule, new leadscrew and new fingernut in place. Nektai's concern with perfect alignment of the rule is actually more important than I first thought (see end of this thread http://machinejunkie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=210 ), In my next incarnation I will try to get this perfect. I think I will simply use layout dye to scribe a line to align the ruler to.
I seem to have misplaced the spring along the way, but otherwise everything is operational. Definitely could use a fresh coat of paint on this finger and I may need to replace that vertical rule because of obsessive stupidity.
OK I'll shut up, here are the pics: