well, I finally got back around to working on the project again.:D
I needed to tie the rear arms and mounts to the front frame rails, as well as box in the rockers. The unibody on those cars suck. I had to remove the transmission cross member, because it was too narrow to clear the transmission. So it could definitely use all the support it can get.
I will usually build a piece in the car and leave it rough, just so that I know it fits. Then cut it out final weld it and finish it.
 


I will usually beef it up and strengthen it at this point.

 
cutting out the cross member was a major headache. It took forever to get it all cleaned up. There's really not enough room to build a different one around the transmission, so I hope that the transmission mount will suffice. Especially if I tie it to the frame and the subframe connectors.

it felt really good to finally see that thing on the ground.
 
I used a bottle jack and a push bar to make sure there were no gaps before welding in the subframe connectors.
 

gap-less!
 
I then re-plated the bottom of the original frame rail, so I have a nice flat place to build the tranny cross member.
 

 
and here's where I left off...

I kind of need to finalize the transmission mounts before I can finish the rear suspension. I need to have the pinion angle set up before I can weld all my brackets to the diff. I'm still waiting on dropped spindles for the front, and I will have to narrow my front suspension, so there will be more saga to follow...