I'm trying to keep the project moving....
I had a good session in the garage last night. Part of my "Action Plan" for installation of the 2 liter drivetrain involved creating some more space for the header and turbo arrangement. I had previously set back a portion of the firewall for turbo clearance on the 1.5L, but it was becoming apparent that I'd need more room for the 2 liter setup.
After laying out a few cut lines, removing some wiring and plumbing from the firewall, and carefully covering the windshield, it was time to start cutting.
This new tool is worth a pause in the action... I bought a diamond-coated cutoff wheel for my 4-1/2 inch grinder. It's a LENOX brand wheel, cost about $15 at Lowes, and I am thoroughly impressed so far. A normal abrasive cutoff wheel costs about 3 bucks or so, so I was hoping that the diamond coated LENOX wheel would pay for itself. I'm here to tell you, that diamond wheel did a great job cutting through multiple thicknesses of sheet metal, and best of all, there was much less black grit, and the wheel didn't get smaller. (Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of the cutoff wheel).
Anyway, I sliced and diced a bigger section of the firewall out, which will be boxed in within the next few weeks....
...and the new view from inside the cabin, after another test-fitting of the engine & trans....
Since I only want to do this once, I think I may widen the opening a bit on the passenger's side of the firewall.
Steve.