Will g80 from 2013 fit my 1994

[AK 99]

I feel that the tooth contact pattern is more critical than backlash. Please check both before disassembly. The Ratech brand shim kits are what I recommend.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rat-1105

But when the pinion settings are not being changed and the gear set is being reused, backlash is the sole dictator of mesh pattern.

So really, backlash is much more important than the mesh pattern itself. Even if the wear pattern looks ok, it can still be off compared to what it was before and you can't tell with the naked eye. Getting the backlash set up how it was previously is going to be much more accurate. Then just check the mesh pattern if you really want to.