Status report:
1. Paint on (wet sand and buff pends after engine running, etc).
2. Header FINALLY roughed in and test fit last night. It fits!!!!!!!!!!! It is DARN close to the neck on the steering rack, but I think it will fly.
-I ordered some of the Edelbrock couplings to weld to the collector so the rest of the exhaust can be bolted up with no gasket needed and resused:
Ball Flange Collector
Going to spend the weekend getting the weather strips and minor trim on the car. Preparing my list of "have to order" items to wrap up the body.
Once the Ball Flange collectors come in I will take the headers back to the shop to TIG weld up the mods to the driver header and add the ball flange. I will send them out to be coated, then the next trip will be to the muffler shop!!!!!!!!!
You know what that means? It means I will then get to see if the motor will actually run

and...maybe, just maybe....go for a drive!
I am thinking I am two weeks from hearing it run (due to the header coating, etc), and then another week from driving it putting me smack into MAY. That gives the remainder of May to get the buffing, interior, and trim done, then start flogging it out on the street to see what is going to break before the big trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!