I cant even find all the tools i need in 1.2 hours...

When I did mine about 6 or 7 years ago, it was 2 or 3 days, 4-6 hours a day. Maybe could have gone a little quicker if it wasn't the middle of January and temps would have been above 5 degrees.
I did the plenum, the thermostat, the water pump, the timing set, plugs, wires, cap, new hoses, new belt, etc.etc. Basically any wearable or soft part that had to come off, I replaced when reassembling.
I also installed a remote start at that time, but that's not included in the time quote above. Ah, to be young and dumb again.

I remember one of the most time consuming parts was actually getting the fan shroud up and out without breaking it. Brittle plastic tabs that don't want to let go when they've been in place for 20 years.

 

The hardest thing I ran into was painting everything lol

 

Been scanning and scanning and I can't seem to find anything on a thicker steel plenum plate. I know it will expand different and such but has anyone tried making a1/4 steel plenum yet? Also props to you dot guys on making you're own. I think I'm gonna take it a little overboard and see if I can smelt down a bunch cans and make a sand cast of original plate and a foam cutout 1/4 thick and Wallah plenum plate made. First though gotta diy a foundry. Gonna be fun

 

I haven't seen a steel one. Lots of aluminum though. Same material the rest of the manifold is made of.

In all reality, you don't need either though. Use the stock steel plate, a GOOD quality gasket, and shorter bolts. End of Problem.

 

I even welded mine together for peace of mind

 

Probably overkill, but, you know for a FACT it will NEVER leak again.

 

Exactly, it will NEVER leak again, which is what I wanted plus got to teach my cousin how to weld aluminum

 

One more question probably not a vary smart one but ware do I put this little o ring that came with gasket kit?

 

on the pipe coming out of the waterpump

 

I'm sure it's in the thread somewhere but what's the consensus on using ultra black along with the gasket on the repair? Last two repairs I have done (different rigs) have failed reusing the stock plate, shortening the bolts, and using a good gasket along with ultra black. I splurged on the Hughes kit for the latest fix, and they included a tube of ultra black so I did a little research. Both felpro and permatex websites said explicitly do not use an rtv along with the gasket, dry is fine, at most use a sealer. Ended up just putting the gasket on dry, figured what the hell, what I was doing wasn't working.