well, got her started with open headers today. have to be very careful how long i let it run... my #1 plug boot hits the header tube, so i can't let her get too warm. will take the headers off for tranny swap, and bring them to the welder with some T304 that the header's seller will hopefully provide. lord knows it will be cheaper than footing the welding bill.
The short valve covers I had stashed wound up cleaning up nicely with just some naval jelly. I didn't have a fine cup brush, but I do have a coarse one. It cleaned up my hydroboost pretty well.
anyway, used the Ebrake and pulled her onto the driveway so i could get crane and creeper access to hopefully start pulling the auto tranny this weekend. there's an interesting bunch of steel bolted on from the original 4X conversion. I'll try to take lots of pics (like anybody wants MORE pics in this thread!) to see if any of this stuff can be identified.
Got the hydroboost bracket from the welder, prepped and painted it 'enamel black'.