So, if I haven't already mentioned, the roadblock to my flow of progress has been the ac system. I have had a not-so-slow leak in it, when I check under vacuum. And there was no way that I was going to reinstall the dash, in case the leak came from the evap core.
So, instead I decided to pressurize the system to see if I could locate the leak by sound, or using a soap spray to identify bubbles. I connected an adapter to my welding(argon) tank, and ran that into the high and low sides of the system at 40psi, and sure enough, it would leak down to zero in about 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I could not find any leaks, or hear any hissing.
The entire system is brand new- new core, condenser, expansion valve, drier, high/low pressure lines, and all O-rings. Everything, except the compressor itself. So I decided to just blindly throw money at the problem, and bought a new compressor.
It worked!
Apparently, it was leaking from either the case seal, or shaft seal. I just finished installing it, and the pressure hasn't dropped a single psi in 15 minutes.
This means That I can now finally install everything- the dp/ exhaust, the heater core, the dash, and start planning out stage 3- interior.
Old and new.
New one, with the top plate and plug swapped over.
New unit, installed.
I expect the pace to pick up a bit now, on the completion of stage 2.