Hope is tomorrow's veneer over today's disappointment.

 Spent a solid 30 minutes removing the top tin from the right side of the engine to get to the thermostat lever and bracket.  Odd, that the closer I am to this car  going back together, the more pieces I have to remove from the engine to get there.  At the rate I'm going, it'll be a long block in a couple of days just so I can fix minor shit that wasn't done right.

I am now held up by a thermostat linkage arm (that's not on the engine) and a spring that may or may not be at the builder's house (more on that later).  If I can fix the linkage and get the spring - I'll get the tin back on and get closer to installing it.

My final days at the job that's consumed the last year of my life are coming - two more to go - and then I've got a week to figure some shit out on this engine before I start the next job.  I'll drive this car someday.  Maybe.