Update from last weekend:
removed the ignition coils, inspected them and put new spark plugs in (BKR7EIX), the pistons have some carbon build up, but not too bad. Sadly the bolts were stripped from when the engine was compression tested at the importer, so I cleaned the threads up and installed slightly longer bolts and they are good.
Installed the pilot bearing and pilot bearing adapter:
then I installed the adapter plate on the engine, and tried to install the starter, it didn't quite fit, I had to grind down the adapter, the starter and the bellhousing here are some pictures:
Then I drilled the threads off of the starter, since how the starter is bolted in from the starter side to adapter, I had to make sure the bolts didnt go through all the way otherwise the trans doesnt sit flush with the adapter. I'll measure the bolts later so I can give you guys a good idea of length
I then looked and looked and looked for the torque spec of the aluminum flywheel included with maverick's kit, and could not find it, he wasn't answering his phone so I went ahead bolted the transmission to the engine, I had to grind down the dowel pins so the transmission sat completely flush against the adapter plate, then I started playing the "lets see what doesnt fit" game, and pull the engine in and out
so first off the sway bar hit the oil pan, I dont think it will fit anymore, then the second "bridge" on the oil pan was hitting the steering rack (I think this is happening because of the PBM eccentric spacers, so I ground that part down
Then I started to jack up the transmission to see where it would sit, it sits even further back than when I had the SR in it, and this is with the Excessive brackets all the way forward, I will have to clearance out the brackets for the trans cross member because I want the transmission as high up into the chassis as possible, I will post pictures later.
Here is where the transmission sits (after I cut out another part of my trans tunnel:
So the sad news is, my initial plan to use the old trans cross member and driveshaft will not work.
So I have to get the engine sitting exactly where I want, clearance everything, make my trans cross member, and then measure the end of the transmission to the input flange of the differential and send that info to shaftmasters.com and they will make me a driveshaft.
More soon