I got to do some more preliminaries - the engine’s not out yet, but I’m closer. The CAC radiator came out, the catalytic converter hardware is off, and I managed to get the downpipe nuts loose without any undue cursing. Here are some pics of my boss’ shop at his house, and the progress I’ve made.

In case you’re wondering, FrontPage calculates the wait time for these pictures as just under 5 minutes at 28.8k. Maybe you should go get a sandwich, or clean the catbox now (don’t do both - that’s gross). I’ll be here when you get back…

First, a couple of shots of the shop itself. Compressed air, parts washer, drill press, plenty of light and ventilation - Pretty much everything you could ask for. Except no lift! I’m trying to convince Michael he needs one…

If anyone’s in the market for a Winston Cup chassis or two, they’re for sale…

The hood is off! Wow, everything sure is much easier to get at…

Up onto the jackstands, and the front wheels come off. No splash guards to remove, since they’re long gone. It’s too hard to change plugs with them still in place. I also like the way the front rotors are rusted from disuse, except where the pads were.

 By the way, the quick-change rear end in the background is for sale, too.

The downpipe nuts are inaccessible, except with an open end wrench. Amazingly, they came loose with only ordinary human-type strength. Now, the downpipe-to-turbo interface soaks in penetrating oil, anticipating the moment when their ten-year marriage is rudely sundered…

… As do the fasteners on the crossover pipe. There’s a lot of room to work once you get the #%$^&@ CAC radiator out of the way! As an aside, I really should sandblast and paint the frame, engine bay, and suspension while it’s apart.