Progress report

Last Sunday night the V8 came out. I can't believe it's now Friday! This week I cleaned the shop and organized the tools on Monday night, pulled the console and shifter and dropped the transmission out on Tuesday night. Installed the motor mounts, block heater and lots of hemming and hawing on Wednesday night. Finished installing the newly arrived skew gear and manifolds on Thursday. Tonight I brought home a bunch of degreaser and did a thorough cleanup of the engine bay, the shop floor and the driveway. Then I fabricated a rear engine lift mount. I'd like to say this was some sort of planned high performance engineering, but the truth of the matter is I forgot to insert the motor lift point when I torqued the head bolts, and since they are stretch torqued and its only two of them, I decided to leave the head bolts torqued and simply create a new lift point. There are two fairly deep M8 threaded holes at the back of the head, so I created a skookum new mount and attached it there.
I've now also taken the engine off the stand and hoisted it up and moved it around in preparation of first fitting. Transmission is on the floor, awaiting its rear cross member to be installed and then it will get slid underneath and jacked into position. Who knows, I may have my first test fit done tonight.
Gonna have to take some time off from it tomorrow as grass needs cutting, not to mention a half dozen other chores that are niggling...