FJ5, thanks for the tip on the trans vin location. I'll be checking that out soon.
Hey propwash, I was so close to listing the crazy bird on craigs list 2 nights ago. It took me hours to write an ad... then I sat and stared at the ad I had written. I pretty much sold the car to myself because I couldn't get myself to click the "publish ad" button.
I went out to the garage and hooked the battery ground cable up, turned the key and pumped the gas. That gear reduction starter noise then the rumble of life... I feathered it along until it warmed up a bit and was able to stumble itself along at a lumpity idle.
Then I just walked around the car, around to the back where those dual trumpets where huffing out a lopey gallop.
I just knew I'd regret selling it for the rest of my life.
It's a driver, actually drives very nicely. My plan is to go after the drivers side quarter with a full skin (not full quarter panel, just a full "skin") then hopefully get by with lower repair panels for the passenger side. Peel the old vinyl roof off, get things nice and straight and shoot some paint. Give it a couple good coats of clear, block it out with 2000 grit and buff it. Then drive the wheels off of it. Get to know it, have some fun with it. Someday down the road I'll put it on a rotisserie and give it the full meal deal.
But plans for now are to fix up a presentable driver, and then drive it.