One thing I won't forget was the engine installation. Since the gasket set
available to us was for a Mini, there was no backplate gasket and the engine
work was undone for the lack of it. Frst thing Saturday morning, I grabbed a
Safeway bag and started to cut one from it, when another lister showed up with
a roll of gen-u-ine store-bought gasket material. Ron and I then fashioned a
new gasket and got on with the job of putting the motor together. Just after
we finished bolting it together, I believe it was Mike that arrived fresh from
APT with a gasket and TO bearing donated by David Anton to the effort. Alas,
too late! Buster now has a perfect spare.
Then the debate began to percolate as to the best way to put in the motor,
and, I swear, Frank just shrugged and grabbed the motor, told me to hold the
tailshaft, and then just lifted it into the car. Wouldn't believe it if I
hadn't seen it close up. Someone wrestled a floorjack into position behind
the steering rack, and the motor was shoved past the rack onto the jack. From
there it was gravy all the way.
Glen
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