When going through a learning curve, too much information is almost the same challenge as too little. I went to the search function, and there's information overload in previous posts. I'm very new to spiral format...wanting to get started.
To the questions:
-Would it be fair to say that "transition" guides are those that accomplish the direction shift by 180 degrees. Many posts state that a transition guide needs to be a totally different profile than the "runners" that are at 180, as well as being larger or smaller than the remaining transition guides, and the runners on 180.
-In a low-end single piece 6' factory rod (take the Berkley "air" E-glass, for an example) there are 6 guides and a tip. Are there goping to be challenges in using the factory guides and doing the spiral conversion?
Placement of the guides is not at issue.... just the sizes and profile used by the plant.
Thanks in advance for all input. KAD

For what I do, I will start with either a 12 or 16 double foot guide on top, depending on what works best for the reel I am using. Most of my spiral wraps are for bass rods. Then I use 3 other double foot guides to get to the bottom of the blank. Most of the time what works for me is 12, 10, 10 and 8 in double foot guides to make the transition. If I had to use a 16 first, then the setup has been, 16, 12, 10, 10. From there I usually go to an 8 single foot and then to 6 single foot fly guides out to the tip.

Yes....the guides used to "get around" are called transition guides.
No....the guides do not have to be different types. Although depending on the rod, reel, foregrip etc. you may need a higher frame guide to start the "get around" with so that the line wont touch the blank.
If you are rewrapping an old rod, by all means use the existing guides. Tape them on and see if your line goes from top to bottom in as straight a path as possible and does not touch the blank when the rod is flexed. Some folks put the first 180 degree guide at the point where the rod bends to 90 degrees and make the transition from there back. Others just "get it around" in the straight line and start the 180 degree guides from wherever the transition guides end. Ain't it great!!!! You really can't go wrong with whatever method you use!!! Remember...when in doubt, go test cast it.

Thanks for the advisements ! I understand. This, coupled with all the informatin in the search archives
has put an egg in my beer.