What a great story! I must say I'm somewhat disappointed that the firewall needed "help". Yours looks really nice. I've got a '63 2-door sedan waiting restoration and planned to replace the /6 with a 360. I don't have the confidence you had to do that cutting and welding. Is there anything behind the bump that you removed? Maybe the windshield wiper mechanism?? My '63 is in storage several miles from here, or I'd look for myself. Did you take any photos of that project?
BC
