God this is going to be cool

Got the motor mounts tacked together. should have the motor side of them fully welded up tonight. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...f2911bccbc.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...da348892ff.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...2548e278d9.jpg

Where does the steering rack go....

Awesome build.

Yeah, that's a good question.... I was considering dropping that rack under the oil pan and proportionally moving the outboard points, but then the steering rack will hit everything I bottom out on. I'm coming to terms with moving it forward of the motor just under the crank pulley. I may end up doing something custom outboard to compensate for that.

Do you have an estimation on how much it'll actually move? Obviously you're balancing between having a well mounted rack versus keeping geometry happy. You could make a bracket that offsets the inner tie rod pick-up point closer to the stock location. Just do a quick analysis to make sure it wouldn't have deflection issues with being that cantilevered. But something similar to this: https://store.partsshopmax.com/shop/...ing/RSPCR.html

It's probably a legitimate 4in forward of the original point. I think if I did brackets that long, I'd need some sort of bearing support to react the moment from the tie rod so I don't grenade the steering rack gears.

Got the engine mounts cleaned up and fully welded. Planning to install them tonight and start work on the trans cross member. Pro tip: welding over flux core mig tacks blows. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...834518d59d.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...599ef0da7c.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...828b9a4eb7.jpg

awesome job, but I suspect you're going to need to support those tabs with some gussets.

I definitely considered it when welding them up but they're 3/16 and have quite a bit of clamp area so I'll keep an eye on them are and add strength if necessary. I got those in place today and finished my fuel lines as well as mounted the coils off of the fuel rail.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...c397d4e1b6.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...a790e5536d.jpg

Are the coils just cantilevered like that?

They are, which you would think is an awful idea, but I tested this if you look at my original engine bay shot. That coil mount was cantilevered as well and once robust enough, never had an issue. If I run into an issue with these I'll make a bracket from the top mounts to the valve cover bolts. Maybe I'll just do that anyway....

Just noticed how thick and burly those mounting tabs are on the coil. It's all metal there unlike the d514a, right?

Yeah, they're all metal around the mounting holes. If anything fails it'll be the mounting holes on the fuel rail.

Pretty much finished the trans mount today. I used a modified stock s2k mount with a GM bushing and mounted that to a custom cross member. All I need to add is some plate behind the bushing to keep the angle it's bent at to meet the floor and some sandwich plates inside the car. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b3b084dbef.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b60072f9fc.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...b566edb7d7.jpg

I got the steering rack completely depowered to help add clearance to the front of the motor. I got it back in the car and quickly mocked up to see where it might go for the first time. like other s2k swaps it looks like it'll have to move forward exactly 4in. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...9c067deb11.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...7dc883484e.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...374322067d.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...8076d48e70.jpg

So while I have been designing and working through the steering rack mount, I have also been trying to figure out my header situation. I had one that came with the motor that I cut up to see if I could get it to fit, but no luck. I tried a stock one from a friend and again, no luck. I didn't feel it was worth it to make my own header and then in a year make a turbo manifold so today I bought this.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...24aaeebb2b.png

OGMOGMGOGMOGMOGMOG

You are doing everything I want to do for my next build. Except the v8 part.

Haha so just the turbo part then?

nah, K swap is the new v8. I'm excited to see where this goes.

Ah, cool. Steering rack mount updates to come later tonight!