200R4 update

All right, I have been busy setting up and working the estate sale for my parents stuff. I haven't had much time, but got some stuff done. The main thing I need to report is that ********** IT'S IN! ********** There were and are some issues, but the important thing is that the motor, tranny and headers are mounted permanently in place. Everything now fits, and the floor shifter is mounted. Here's the issues we had:

The valve covers were too tall so we switched to the old MP covers. We had to grind them to clear the manifold. I was going to grind the manifold, but there isn't much material there. Now they fit properly and look perfect.

Struggled to find the right size cam seal as the old one was leaking oil.

Had to redo the transmission cooler lines to clear the headers.

Once everything was ready to go, we mounted the headers and checked starter fitment. TTi is supposed to be the best for fitment. They asked me what year block, what heads, what starter, etc ... The headers hit the starter and we had to use a hydraulic press to bend them a bit to fit. On the other side, they hit a casting bump on the block. We had to grind down the bump to clear.

The upcoming issues I see are:

When the collector is bolted onto the driver's side, it contacts the new crossmember we made. We can figure something out there pretty easily.

It looks like the steering linkage hits the headers. I need to play with it a bit more and see if it does and how badly. There are some marks on the header, but that may have been done when reinstalling the linkage or when the headers were laying in the engine bay while the motor was lowered in.

Now we move on with the externals such as the carb, distributor, MSD 6 box, alternator, power steering and cooling system, shifter cables, line locks, and TV cable. Then the rear leafs, subframe connectors, get the driveshaft built, and exhaust run. I am likely going to outfit the carb for E85 which I will put in a separate post. I can see the light of day here. It's going to come together very quickly. The steering linkage is back on, so it's a roller again. A few more days and it will almost look like a real car again! I have a lot of pics to post, so it will take a few posts to get them all in. The pics makes me realize the Dart broke down on the way in and I had it towed on a slushy, snowy day. I forgot to wash the engine compartment before dropping the motor in.

Tranny lines and homemade bracket. Also the header in place so we could test fit the starter. The header hit the starter.
View attachment Tranny line and bracket.jpg
View attachment Header on uninstalled motor.jpg

The new B&M shifter mounted on the hump.
View attachment Shifter installed.jpg
View attachment Shifter installed 1.jpg
View attachment Shifter installed 2.jpg

Motor installed. Sorry about the unwashed engine bay. Stupid me. The tranny dipstick clears very well. That was a concern - turned out it needn't have been.
View attachment Engine installed looking forward.jpg
View attachment engine installed looking rear.jpg
View attachment engine installed looking rear 1.jpg
View attachment Engine installed firewall view.jpg