Sterling Doc wrote:
Cheap is relative, and you're about right where I expected. 

 Spec cars can be built to the numbers in your personal goal, but not at the level you like - used suspension, rebuilding you own motor, used bolt in cage, etc. I think it pays off in the long run to go through things like you have, as you have to do less "pay me later", and waste less money in DNF's :. It sounds like you're right on target with my "budget build," which was also built to a pretty high standard! 
Car 
looks like a million bucks - nice work!
Thanks, I was just givin' you a hard time. 

  The $5500 was a real personal goal though.  I'll just call it "wishful thinking".  I want to build it once, like I like it, to my standard.  So far I have learned a tremendous amount about the car and tested my capabilities as a builder.  It's not that I haven't done any of this before,  I have, it's just doing it all in one project and orchestrating it so it will flow smoothly together in a short time frame.
Atteberry,  thanks for the heads up.  We'll see what happens and if temps go up, I'll move it further up like you said.
I got the steam vent line all hooked up and installed the water temp. sender w/adapter.
 
I loomed some wires that Dave had run earlier.  There's more to loom under the hood.  HOOD, damn, I forgot about the hood!!!!!!  Note to self, dig out hood, remove insulation, wires, hoses and clean.  Figure out location for hood pins.
 
I filled in the oval and round holes in the floorboard.  I also taped up any holes in the firewall that lead directly into the interior.
 
Hopefully in the next few weeks we'll have it up and running.  I hope. (fingers crossed) We should be getting quite a few parts in tomorrow and lots of stuff to do in 52 days.