Motor arrives damaged. Motor goes back to factory for inspection and repair. August 1998 Transmission and adapter plate return from Electro Automotive. Motor finally returns. I hook a 12v battery to the motor and the tailshaft on the transmission spins.
Pressure wash the frame and engine compartment.
A friend puts me in touch with a welder named Jerry Worthen. Jerry comes out to look at the battery box drawings and give me an estimate. Jerry will be back in January to help me design the new motor mount and figure out how to tie the boxes into the frame. Unfortunately most of the brand new synthetic transmission fluid pours out the tail end while I'm trying to slide the motor in. They look like stubby rubber cylinders with a bolt coming out each side.