Starting to feel more like a car again...sorta! Engine is in and the transmission is installed, so now I can sit by the gear shift and make motor sounds for my own amusement at least! Transmission is a Tremec TKX 5 speed which doesn't require any tunnel mods to fit, apart from adding the shifter hump which I need to figure out the right location for.
Underbody is almost ready for paint. Switched to using a wire wheel for removing the undercoat...makes the job go a lot quicker. Some lessons learned though...Milwaukee M18 grinders don't like extended use like that. All the magic smoke escaped from mine (and of course it's out of warranty). This was a regular M18, not the brushless Fuel.
Also, when you're using a wire wheel on a grinder with no guard, and wearing thin gloves, and the thought crosses your mind that maybe you should be wearing leather gloves...maybe you SHOULD be wearing leather gloves. Ouch. Split second of contact removed a nice swath of skin from one of my fingers. Coulda been worse.
I'll be using a two part epoxy primer for the underbody. I currently have some which I was told would be a fairly dark grey but it looks more like USN destroyer grey or a bit lighter. It will only be visible to someone looking underneath the car (which I have to keep reminding myself is not meant to be a trophy winning show car) or me when I have the car up on the lift but I'm not sure I'll be happy with the lighter shade there. I'm mainly after something that will provide a more subtle contrast to the frame and suspension. Probably overthinking it, but that's what I do. Black would work too I guess.