First impressions aren't always reliable...
After a day with the car, here's what it needs:
To pass inspection- new pads and rotors, exhaust (got a leak at the H-pipe, need the hangers rewelded), tires (borrowing the mounted 16" snows from my dad to get it through inspection)
Soon after- new trans fluid (running ATF for about the length of an oil change then going to Synchromesh, [used Synchromesh in the past with great success] I don't know how long the present crap has been in there), full tune-up, idler pulley (it's singing like whoa), the shift boot that mounts to the floor pan (mine is torn up... how one can tear this boot up is beyond me)
Worse yet, I've got a driveline vibration that might be the rear end- was out with Dad last night, he popped into Neutral at speed and the vibration was still there, so it's definitely coming through the gearbox. If it's the rear I'm planning on buying a used 8.8 to put in there- cheaper and easier than taking it apart. The 3.27's are fine by me anyway.
Any and all commentary welcome... I bit off a little more than I can chew, and it needs more work than I thought it would, but in due time all the issues will be sorted out. You can't wipe the stupid grin off my face when I'm beind the wheel!
BTW I took the tint off the rear windshield today- it looked like hell, was a hack job done in two pieces- looked like my window was cracked all the way across! It came off easily but left a mess of old adhesive in its wake... any suggestions how to get it off without ruining the defroster grid?