(Pictures added)
After a long time between major advances, finished the ignition wiring last night and tried starting this morning...It fired up and ran as soon as fuel got to the fuel rails. That old Vette motor sounds as good as it did in the race car. Couldn't run it for too long though, with open shorty headers it filled up the garage really fast and I do have a couple of fuel leaks at fittings so the rest of the day is going to be buttoning up the little things. But it's a great feeling that Cooter has come to life....WhooHoooo!!! Think I might just go and celebrate with a frosty adult beverage...

More to the story...
So I put it in gear to see if the hydraulic clutch was working...nothing. Tried second, third, even fifth...nothing. It would have helped if I had taken out the jackstands under the rear axle. They were just holding the rear high enough to keep the tires off the ground. No more frosty beverages...

 

I am glad to know that I am not the only one! And I don't drink anymore!

 

It's good when things come together - (Required Rant) - It would be even gooder if it was a Y-Block

 

Congrats, Jack! Hope to see you on the road soon!

 

Jack
Thats awesome news!!! I'll second the frosty beverages

I hate it when you forget the little things like jackstands....LOL. Reminds me, we were out at the drags years ago, my buddy was running his 67 Cougar. He had jacked it up between rounds and put it on jackstands. When they called the next round he got flustered and jumped in, fired it up, and...nothing, no reverse, no forward, nothing. He had forgot about the jackstands....LOL. He didn't have much of a sense of humor about it though (the rest of us did)

Congrats on the milestone
Bobby

 

Thanks guys for the comments. It sure feels good to know that I can now move it in and out of the garage under its own power. Dick, I understand how you feel about the Y-block, but, hey, I had this fresh built motor sitting in the garage, all bought and paid for, what else could I do?

 

It's not you, It's not a brand thing, It's just my wonderful nature that requires me to do things like that - I could even make more comments if you had some pictures

 

Congrats!

Other than the drivetrain chioce that is.

Must have been the frosty beverages talking!

But seriously, I bet the neighbors love the open headers.

I know my neighbors do!

 

OK, here are a few pictures. Just don't complain about the Darkside, you asked for them. If it helps any, Cooter has a T45 5-speed and a 9-inch rear. I still have wiring to clean up and cover and I have to make a louvered cover for the FI computer.

 

All looks very neat and well organized, in a factory kind of way.
I like the look of the inner fender panels, did you make them or are they aftermarket?
How was the fit?
Congrats on getting it running, its a big moment. John

 

Well it has the dizzy in the back like a Y-Block, it's at the wrong angle though

 

I'll work on it

Thanks, the inner fenders were made by a local guy. They fit great.

 

Jack, it looks great! I would've kept quiet about the jack stands though.....

 

Looks great! neat and tidy.

I'm glad you shared the jackstand tale with us. I still smile when I think of it. It makes me feel like I'm not alone in this world.

Bobby