Installed the starter again a couple of days ago. Tried using the transmission dust cover I had. Should have checked the drill pattern first. A 904 dust cover will NOT fit on a 727 for all of you out there who stayed awake wondering.
So now I need a dust cover for a 727, too.
Finally got the front end up on jacks so I could get under to mount the starter. I'd never gotten a really good look at the underside of the car before. Got me a little worried. There is black paint on top of a very uneven and lumpy layer of rust protection. Some new and some old. Makes it look like the entire car is very rusty and simply painted over.
I decided to convince myself that it is all good.
Wonder what happened here, though.