Finally I begin. I removed the exhaust system, and found that the front section (before the first muffler [of three]) is indeed rotted through, about where the support over to the transmission used to be (it's gone, too). I may be able to combine the two exhaust systems to get one good one. If not, a repair at the muffler shop shouldn't cost much at all. The problem area is just pipe. Next I removed the driveline, that went well. I then unhooked most of the transmission impedimenta, wires, mounts and such, and then drained it and the torque converter. The fluid didn't look too bad, but there was a bit of milkiness to it at the end. The six bolts holding the converter to the flywheel and flex plate are out, as are all but two of the bell housing bolts. The two hard-to-get-at bolts are all that remains holding it in, or so I believe. Getting a wrench on the front crank bolt was a pain, and in doing so I found that the radiator is quite bent from the wreck. Doesn't seem to leak, though.
It looks like this car indeed had two belly pans at one time, both are missing. It's got the two side shark-gill panels, all in all it looks just like the SDL underneath, but smaller. I may be able to fabricate something like I did for the SDL. There is little to no rust underneath, excepting a piece of what looks like pipe underneath the radiator that's rotted through and the stuff that's attacking the jack points. The car has a block heater, but no cord. Just a nice cap over the connections. The donor car has a cord, so I'll be taking that. The steering damper is totally shot, there's no resistance in it at all. -- Jim
