Not to much going on with the project since I started working. I only have time to work on it on weekends now.
After trial and error I come to find out that I cannot sand "Wet or Dry" flat black paint! So all of the imperfections and roughness of the body panels I will just have to live with. I have to respray the drivers door and wing and finish painting a few odds and ends, I will most likely tackle them tomorrow.
Today was spent removing the transmission so I could cut the shield/plate that goes between the trans and engine. I had to cut out a small section out of the bottom of the shield for the output shaft to the transfer case. I also had to cut the flywheel cover shield also. I tried tracking down the correct shields but I got tired of waiting and I was not hearing back from people on prices. So I just modified the FWD shields I had. All of the drivetrain minus the first drive shaft is installed. Also got the clutch lines and slave mounted. I just now realized that the AWD trans does not use the damper that the FWD uses. This explains now why the mounts where all off. So I will most likely have to go out tomorrow and rebend a line and remove the damper from the system. Clutch is most likely going to be pretty heavy as I deleted the clutch vac assembly :)
I will also be breaking out the welder tomorrow so I can install the AEM UEGO Wideband O2 sensor in to the 3SX downpipe. I found a nice spot right on top of the collection point to weld the bung where it won't hit anything "fingers crossed". I am thinking that I will run open downpipe for a bit as I either need to modify the exhaust I built for the N/A or get one of those nice Concept Blue Ebay specials.
Tomorrow I will be running the pick up fluids, vacuum lines and hose for the power steering cooler. I hate the look of that stupid loop in the front so I am going to use an old ATX trans cooler and run that instead. In the future I plan on moving the oil cooler up from and plumbing it with Earl's lines so it will look good with two coolers up front along with the 2 14" fans I am mounting in front. Since I am not using a FMIC I got the fans to help with cooling and fill in the big void left by the 99 front bumper.
As for those Harbor Freight ties. Those are more for computer wire management. I would not trust those Velcro straps under the hood of my car!

