Today was the day to attack the steering. It took a bit of "messing", but I finally decided on a mounting point for the mid-point support bearing and it worked out OK. The shaft on the steering rack comes out at a less than ideal angle up and towards the frame rail, almost right at the motor mount support. Here's the two lower u-joints...

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and the tie to the column u-joint.
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The mid-point support hangs off of the motor mount plate, and the center u-joint is right at 2" from the header at the closest point.
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The middle joint is running right at the limit for angle, but it's smooth, no bind so it's good to go.
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Had to grind a bit of a relief in the motor mount support, but not enough to compromise the support. Now I didn't calculate the strength of the remaining cross section on that 45 degree gusset, and if pressed I can easily weld on pieces of flat stock above the C-notch to beef up the metal, but I don't see that it's gonna be necessary.
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Trying to get everything done that needs body to frame reference needs, then the plan is to pull the body and finish the firewall where it was cut to clear the bellhousing, run the exhaust, install the gas tank and fuel lines, and get ready to re-paint the chassis body color vs black. I'm going to leave the differential and ladder bars black, since I'm confident that the paint is right on them (I did it).

Onward, small steps.