[Collins] KWM-1 Boondoggle (otherwise known as "the case of the missing NB" and/or "recap madness")

[Guy Dragoo]

Good day to the list.  I have a KWM-1 ( serial number 866) that I have had many years (tho have never had up and going yet...) that "had" at one time a noise blanker installed (currently no NB is installed...I could tell it had a NB by missing lamp dimmer and screw markings on top cover).  Oddly enough when my Dad passed away several years ago in his "junk" there was a 136b-1 (complete as far as I can tell including pot and overlay...rare or not?)...I have no documentation for this unit that I can seem to find...what are the chances of having these units come together into my hands?....fate always has been an odd and unpredictable thing.  I am on the prowl for an installation document/schematic as well as advice for the possible installation of the NB unit.
I would also appreciate the input of any KWM-1 experts here on the list.  I recently recapped most of the problem caps in my unit (the black beauties/electrolytics are all gone as they were literally splitting and the unit did not function at all) but I still have some remaining issues.  The unit seems to be semi-functioning sans a few quirks.
1.  The unit has popping on warm up but popping seems to go away (sensitivity does seem down and may account for #3 below).  I suppose that there are some postage micas that I need to replace...any insight as to which are the typical offenders (capacitor numbers of those others have replaced would help me immensely) would be swell (I am hoping to target specific offenders as these fellers are for the most part buried).  
2.  The off selection on the "mode"switch does not work (it stays on even when turned off)..I haven't traced the wiring yet but was wondering if this was a normal mod or a condition of some known failure.
3.  The unit has a calibration type tone even when not in the cal mode (normal?).  In fact the unit seems to pick up a local AM station quite well in the "cal mode" and nothing in ssb or cw.  Be aware I have done no adjusting short of recapping known black beauties and turning the unit on. 
4.  The unit has a diode replacement plug in for one of the tubes (I don't have the unit in front of me but am thinking it is V10).  Should I put a tube back in that place or leave alone?  I believe it was a 6al5?  I have heard that this may provide better performance but I am probably a good definition for "idiot" as far as really knowing whether this is true or not.

Any other hints or advice as I complete this process would be appreciated as the saga continues...especially updates that are critical to reliable/reasonable operation and other known typical failures.

Thanks
and 73

Guy AC5HL