Sorry to hear about all those problems. Access holes were a great idea, not sure I would have come up with that one. Hope you can find a flex plate today. Good luck!
Happy New Year!!

 

Thanks Bill! I'm sure the access holes will come in handy, although I hope I never use them again! Heading back to Autozone today to see if I can somehow lead them through finding a 168 flexplate with the small pattern for my high stall converter.

 

I'm whipped, but happy! Found a Pioneer flexplate in Autozone's online catalog that was listed as a "heavy duty" and it was exactly what I needed! Only $3 more than std. duty, and it's much heavier, plus gold anodized. That color must make it way better!
Got it in after a minor fitment issue. It was a tiny bit too tight on the crankshft, so had to touch it up with a file to allow it to fit snugly, and still go on. A real pain to put flexplate bolts into the crank with 2" clearance from the converter, but long fingers help get there!
After getting the mechanical all connected I dug up a sheet of anodized aluminum I had from some project and cut out covers for the 4 holes I drilled. I glued them down with black RTV, and then cut more foil backed sound deadener to replace all that I had to tear up to make the holes.
After getting all the carpet back in place, and the interior cleaned up, I moved the car outside and gave the garage a good pickup and cleaning. It looked like a bomb hit my tool box with all the tools under, beside, and inside the car! Looks like it's all good now, and I'm whipped, but happy it's done!

 

The Austin got some print! Got an email from a guy on another site I frequent who said that there were action shots in Gasser Wars Magazine from the local drags last summer of the Austin. I guess 3-4 action shots from the starting line, and various points down the strip on different runs. I don't subscribe to GW, so I'm waiting for them to send me a back issue to see what they did. Never had a car in a magazine before!
When I called him the owner said he'd like to do an article if I would fill out a feature car article form, so he's sending one along with the back issues. The magazine is published in Washington State, so they have people close by that will come over to take pictures and write the article. He just needs some construction pictures to put it all together.

 

Good for you! Good thing the whole project has been well documented.

 

Cool!!!

 

Thanks guys!

 

Great to hear you got some good press on the gasser! I hope you can post a couple of the pictures when you get them. Is that article online??

 

No, they have a web site, but they only show the last two issues in a picture. It appears there's no method to open up the issue and view it.
Gasser Wars Magazine -- The Number One Gasser Magazine in the World!

 

Cool deal man!
Being able to open up the mag online would kinda defeat the purpose of them wanting to sell subscriptions.