Last issue I covered the initial basic front suspension install. At this point I've not decided on whether I'm gonna use the VW box/column assembly that came with the original purchase or not. This is mainly because I'm also a bit up in the air over what'll be used as a drivetrain. I had planned to use the Olds engine that you've been following in Dan Kahn's Rocket Power series for motorvation, but due to time constraints (I'm trying to get the pickup on the road for Americruise) I may be forced to use a second-hand small-block Chevy/TH-400 combo just to meet my self-imposed deadline. For the time being I'm going to skip the steering portion of the frontend assembly (I'll get back to finish that up in the near future) and move on to another of the countless chores in front of me.
The next task I decided to tackle was recessing the T's firewall. Now, although I've installed more than a few pre-formed aftermarket walls in the past, this was the first time I'd attempted to recess an existing one, so it was quite interesting.
There were a few factors I had to consider before I began, such as how deep to make the recess and how to go about it in a way that would be easy to modify if I miscalculated (the smart thing would have been to hold off until I knew what engine I'd be using, but I'm not often accused of being a genius). Follow along and see how I did it. It may not be the "correct" way, but it was easy and it worked for me (though we'll see what happens in the near future).
