Cracking the crate...

Small box in the bottom of the crate containing the water outlet housing and thermostat.

Without a lift handy (low ceilings in my "shop"), I chose to disassemble the crate and leave the engine on the pallet until I am ready to put it on the engine stand...

Fit engine in all of its production-line glory...  It was all I could do at this point to cover it back up and go to bed.   Later this week it will go up on the stand and the race kit conversion will begin...I have read and re-read the manual from HPD and am very eager to get the process underway...more later this week (Christmas commitments willing).