LSU - you need to provide the cylinder length to the nearest .001". "A hair longer than 1.4 inches....." aint gonna work.
If you do send it in to Ruger, and you have to consent to the transfer bar modification (as you said), then it's very simple.... just decline the modification. There's no good reason to have it done, especially if you're going to then pay somebody to restore it to the original configuration. The general feeling among three-screw owners is that it's a crime against humanity to have the transfer bar installed. If you're gonna do that, just go out and buy a New Model - you'll have no trouble selling the three-screw for close to break even money.
Load one, skip one, load four, cock & lower.