Tonight, after working out a game plan for the cage with some clear-headed input (thanks to Sarah), I made progress on the rocker panel repair and got it about 95% done. The 10-gauge plate for the mid plate also arrived just as I was wrapping up. Additionally, I prepped the blow shield to add the clutch pivot.
The plan now is to strip the car down completely to bare metal, then move on to the trunk floor and side panels. After that, I’ll tackle the quarter panels on both sides, essentially repairing all the OEM parts before modifying anything else. This way, I’ll have a solid baseline to start from for further modifications.
Once that’s done, I’ll narrow the rear frame rails, relocate the spring perches inward so the outer edge aligns with the new rails, and then tub the car, stretching the quarter openings by 4.5 inches. Afterward, I'll remove the subframe connectors and replace them with chromoly tubes, then get the updated cage fitted to my liking.
There’s still a lot to do, but that will be my main focus over the next four months.
