That's the best word I can come up with at 2:30am... Here goes the day's update.

Started out well. UPS showed up about 11 with my shiny new y-pipe and dual Random Tech cats. Cool! Ok, back to work..

Started out with the front timing chain cover. We knew this was gonna be a pain, but we had no idea how much of one... After about 30 minutes or so of shoving, bending, twisting, and socializing, we finally came to the conclusion that the oil pan should be dropped. Lovely...

So, I hopped up on top and let Garth slide his little arms up in between the oil pan and the crossmember (last time he tried this he used wheel bearing grease! :) to lower the pan. I, in the meantime, pulled out the head gaskets and went to work. Dropped the first gasket on, and set the head in place. Cool! :) Grabbed the second gasket, pull it out... Hmm.. What's this shiny spot on the gasket. Oh no!!! The metal ring that lines one of the cylinders is CRIMPED!!!!! Basically, the gasket is ruined. Time is about noon...

By 12:45, we had called every dealer we could think of, every aftermarket parts supplier, and every speed shop in town. NO ONE had a pair of either Impala SS or standard LT1 head gaksets... I mean no one. Well, except for the one dealer who's parts shop isn't OPEN on Saturdays!!! (Capitol, downtown). Great...

At this point, things are looking VERY gloom... I came VERY close to taking my chances with the bent gasket when Rocky called to check on my status. I didn't have much good news for him. Well, after a couple of minutes, he offers to hand carry a set of gaskets to the airport and air cargo them to me same day!!! Tells me to call and find out if it can be done, and he'll box 'em up! Can you believe this?!?!?! Talk about customer service!!! So, 5 minutes later I have everything lined up for the gaskets to show up on AA at 8pm.

So, we decide to do a bunch of other little things in the meantime. Front cover goes back on (after MUCH struggle!), accessory bracket goes on (more struggle), radiator back in, etc... I went out to the muffler shop to get my custom flange enlarged slightly to allow it to fit over the SLP intermediate pipe... Then, it's about 7:15...

Off to the airport. I get there, and the package has just arrived. I'm psyched! Back home 15 minutes later, everyone's excited, and we pull them out. Uh, what's this? These look kinda funny... Lay them down on the block... WRONG GASKETS!!!!!!!! At this point, I was being restrained from taking a hammer to anything I could find (not really, but....). I almost cried...

So, we give up and eat dinner...

After dinner, we decide to simply attack the one side of the motor as best we can. The passenger's side is by far the more difficult of the 2, so we decide to get it back together as best we can. On goes the good gasket, the head, finish up the accessories, stick the header in. Oops... Doesn't wanna go. Drop the starter. Ahh... Slips right up from the bottom no problem.

Then the dipstick tube. I think there were at any given moment 3 of us twisting, pushing, pulling, bending on that tube. Man... Something so simple........ Anyway, Doug and I FINALLY were able to force that thing into the hole.. Celebration time!

Then the header. Looks like I have more tools to purchase. I think 4 of the 6 bolts are on, and 2 are going to require some form of special tool to tighten them. They simply are NOT easy to get to. But, for the most part the header on that side is on, and the starter is back in. Rockers went on sometime in there as well...

So, as the car sits now, the entire passenger side of the motor is together as much as it can be, and the driver's side is barren. Makes for quite a funny sight! :) Tomorrow, we're gonna simply finish buttoning up the pass. side (spark plugs and wires, tighten header, adjust rockers, valve cover) and mock up the driver's side to make sure the header will fit, the plug wires will be cut, etc. Then, I'll be waiting until Monday for the stupid dealers to re-open and start my hunt again for a head gasket.

All in all, is was an emotionally and physically draining day. I'm totally exhausted at the moment. And definitely a bit dejected as well. I want to thank EVERYONE who came over and lend helping hand and LOTS of moral support! I'd name you all, but my little brain is about to turn off at the moment. Thanx again to you all!!

At this point, I have a few issues which are definitely going to create problems. The A.I.R tubes on the headers are different from the 96, and the tubes I received to replace the 96's are not going to simply bolt in. The EGR connection is going to require some work as well. My 52mm TB has not arrived yet either, but that's not too big of a problem. We ported the manifold in preparation for it to arrive. I bet the sight at the carwash of Doug and Nathan spraying out an intake manifold was kinda cool! :)

Beside those 2 issues, things are mostly going ok. There's nothing I can do now about the gasket, so I can't really be upset about it. I'll just have to work evenings next week to finish things up.

Ok, the brain is going to sleep.. Again, thanx for all the help today guys! It was much appreciated! :) Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day, and Monday I'll find everything I need to finish this project up! :) I'll keep you posted...