[akitainu]

Welcome to the forum.

As Lester, said...the take-down lever should be straight and parallel with the frame. Maybe strip it down, slap it back together and see where you stand. Because as pictured, it probably ain't right.

 

[akitainu]

Stripped it and the guide rod and spring are in place as they should. But I did notice I can rotate the take down lever all the way up until in contacts the frame rail when the slide is off. Can anyone confirm theirs can do this?

With the slide off, I can move mine to the frame rail.

 

[akitainu]

Well I played with it more today and it seems like I'll strip it and place the guide rod and spring in place. Put it back together rack it back a few times. Strip it again and the guide rod came out of the groove underneath the barrel. Any ideas what's going on with it?

That's normal. When you rotate the takedown lever it moves the guide rod.