Baby don't be so mean!

At last, the first real day of work. It feels nice to actually get something on the car done. Ben and I were up early in the AM to see about getting that decade-old gasoline out of the tank.
"No Problem." I say, "I've seen people siphon tanks all the time! We just need some hose"
After a quick trip to Lowes for some clear rubber tubing, its time to give it a pull.
What happens in the next couple hours or so is a little hazy, probably due in large part to the fact that I JUST INHALED BAD GASOLINE VAPOR. I do remember having to burp occasionally, and being very entertained at how my breath smelled like gasoline.
So after this little adventure, we cruise over to Kragen and find a siphon kit for the princely sum of 7 dollars. Now I feel really smart (and its not just the gas fumes talking).

Once we make sure the tank is dry (or as dry as we can get), we throw 5 gallons of fresh Shell 87 Octane into the tank and try to fire the engine. We hook the jumpers up (yes again, we'll buy a battery when we're god damned good and ready!) and give it a turn. The motor turns over. and over. and over. So I pull out the keys, and the starter keeps on turning. After some confusing looks from the rest of the team "Hey dumbass, stop trying to start the car" We realize the starter solenoid is stuck on, and so we have to yank the battery cables off to finally shut it down.

Back at Kragen again, new starter solenoid in hand, we decide to go ahead and clean up the spark plugs to try and get it started. This whole time Andrew and I are busy ripping the interior out of the car and chucking it into the lawn(Not my lawn). While it looked like menial work, it was probably the most fun part of this project I've had yet.

Finally, we have most of the interior out and we're ready to start it again. This time? The melodious 5.0L V8 rumbles to life! Ben takes Andrew around the block, and proceeds to attempt our first (of many I'm sure) smoky burnouts.
Whatever bonus points he lost in the 'lack of smoke' factor, Ben more then made up for in 'Almost wreck into Eamon's Focus'. After some more shenanagins, the motor dies, and we roll it into the garage and just call it a weekend.

Hopefully we can get the carb rebuilt before the next big work weekend, and then get the motor to a place where we feel comfortable that it won't instantly rattle apart as soon as it hits redline.