Thermostat and gasket came in, so I;
-pulled the coil pack plugs, coil packs and plugs.
-disconnected the injector plugs
-filled cooling system with distilled/coolant
-cranked the starter a couple of times for about 15 seconds each time to get the oil into the system (checked through oil cap each time to see oil on timing chain)
-reinstalled plugs, coil packs, and hooked up coil pack and injector plugs
-crossed my fingers
-hit the starter one more time
Fired up within one rev! Old gas and oil in the cylinders, SMOKEY, and, LOUD with no exhaust on beyond the h-pipe.
I only ran it for about 45 seconds as I have a grating sound coming from the cat area. I suspect something between the block and the trans housing is rubbing (flexplate/TC/shield), but I'm not positive. I'll have to rig the rest of the exhaust on the ground so I can hear better after I get down on the floor and poke around. I'll have to check trans fluid too, I didn't think I lost more than a pint but I could be underestimating. It really sounds like sheet/thin metal rather than bearing screech.
Engine oil is at the bottom of the x-hatch after running it and filling the passages/filter, but nothing worrisome. It's nice and light still too, no milkiness.
Hopefully the grating sound is OUTSIDE of the block, Eheheh.