Back to tie off this thread.
I destroyed the thinnest shim I had yesterday while removing the circlip.
I took what was maybe .010 .015 shim and sanded the hell out of it. Circlip still wouldn't get on. Today I work I went over to our Lab and found some shim stock.
Took a hammer and punch, punched it out. Looked like shit but I cleaned it up and bam, perfect thickness snap ring went on, variator super snug. I'd say just a little play. .1mm or under. Keep shimming. It's tedious but it'll happen