One more visual check of how the VDO sender will mount.

Everything looks good, so time to start putting the engine topsides together. Here's the front right sheet metal duct.

And the left front duct.

And finished up today with the inner blower housing.

Hall sensor tooth gear.

Blower cage.

Blow-back vent flappers.

Alternator.

Front blower housing and alternator sheet metal. I even remembered the plastic baffle ring.

I made a shorter jumper cable for the stock oil pressure sensor.

Roughly how it fits.

Rear sheet metal pieces, left and right.

Side sheet metal pieces.

Front sheet metal.

I attached the thermostat cable to the flap pivot.

A little voice told me to test it, so I got out my heat gun.

The thermostat bellows expanded, but the cable went slack.

And the flap pivot did not rotate much. I could move it by hand, but it was binding.

Turns out the plastic bushing on the right side was not seated properly. I loosened the sheet metal and fixed that.

I hit the bellows with the heat gun again, and this time the cable stayed tight.

And the pivot and flaps rotated as specified.

With the rear piece, I have all the top sheet metal on again.

Last thing today: the new VDO sensor.

A few more bits today. Spark plug wires.

J-tubes.

I cleaned the old gaskets off the intakes, and it looked like they did not seal evenly. A bit of scuffing on some sandpaper proves that.

More sanding. Getting flatter.

Intake manifolds installed (with thin gaskets).

Oil filler/breather.

Top side wires, including starter cable.

Got out my 3M real rubber tape.

And made a wrap to insulate the starter terminal.

And also sealed the gap between the rear sheet metal and the trans housing.

Fuel lines and clamps, including brackets for spark plug wires.

Fuel lines installed.

Throttle bodies.

I know I can't lift the engine up like this, since the injector rails extend too far to the sides, but I want to check and adjust things.

Like the throttle connection cable (from Tangerine).

Installed and adjusted.

EFI system vacuum hose.

Installed.

Ready to go into the car.

The parts cart is empty--that's a good sign.

And a few more items done. Got my fingers crossed about oil leaks.

I am eagerly awaiting the install, fire-up and drive. I have my fingers crossed you addressed the leaks and will have a nice dry engine.

I have been chasing oil leaks on my car and am down to 2 from 5. Passenger axle seal that leaves a nice half dollar size puddle on the ground when parked and a cam chain cover that weeps a drop every now and again. I have a nice new seal for the axle and hope to get to that this coming week.

Thanks, Michael. I wish you luck, too.

Instead of 914 work I spent a couple of hours playing with old snow. I shoveled back snowbanks in the shade not melting (except a little each day which then makes ice on the driveway), and big ice dams at the street that makes a skating rink every morning. Party my OCD and partly my wife's worries about slipping.

I did have time to confirm some measurements. The engine with the ITB injector rails is about 34" wide.

But the clearance between the rear suspension mounts is less than 32".

There might be a way to sneak the engine in while lifting it--have to see.

Fingers Crossed that everything goes well

Thanks, Kevin. Can't be any worse, right?