You reach right in there from the top and stick the bolt in the hole with your fingers. You can actually tighten that bolt easily with an open end wrench, but I tightened it and the center one from the front of the engine as the picture shows. I used about 2 1/2 feet of extensions.
Royce who made the exhaust system you are using?
Mike
Here’s a link:
i’ve bought from him before he is top notch. but didnt know he made exhaust for the 68 cougar. other then the GTE tips.
Slowly making progress hooking everything up. It may not run until this weekend due to a few key parts still not here.
This week I started out with no transmission cooler lines, no H - pipe, no driveshaft, parking brake not connected, speedometer cable not connected, and no fluids in anything.
Installing the trans cooler lines required disconnecting the sway bar from the frame.
Meanwhile, every time I got up to get a tool I would put a quart in the funnel. I started with a container of EOS to ensure a good break in of the camshaft and lifters. Then 5 quarts of non detergent SAE 30 oil.
Lots of things on top of the engine got connected this week, including the heater hoses, vacuum hoses for the tilt - away steering, and the smog system. The radiator and shroud went in. Still waiting for the clamps for the power brake hose when this photo was taken.
The pinch weld is going to get blacked out before it comes down off the jack stands. I spent a good part of a day installing the H pipe, driveshaft, and parking brake cable. The gas tank got 5 gallons of 110 octane race gas so that the fuel system could be leak checked. Meanwhile 5 quarts of ATF went into the transmission before it started coming up the dipstick tube.
Today’s agenda includes bleeding the brakes, and engine start. Have to plug the vacuum going to the headlights since there is no grille yet. Fingers crossed!
Good luck Royce it wont be long before your test driving.
Royce,
You’ve been keeping us all a little is suspense don’t you think 
Even a verbal update-
Sorry I have been working on a '67 Mustang 390 GT fastback for a friend.
The Cougar start up went well after I took the cruddy looking C9AF-U carb off. It was leaking fuel from about 5 places. Too bad because it was a good reliable carburetor a year ago. Sigh. I ended up doing all the runs so far using the C8AF 9510-AD carb from my GT-E. The car’s numbers matching carb is ready to try, just need some time to work on it.
The transmission seems to shift through all the gears and it doesn’t leak. It works great on jack stands. I had a little exhaust leakage at the donuts that went away after tightening the studs / nuts.
Should be back on this car next week, just had some other stuff going on. With the engine running good the front clip can go together. I still have none of the plastic dash pieces, they are at the plastic replater and have been for months. Really need those…! Currently the rest of the instrument panel is hanging by ty - wraps so I have gages to read.
Hello,Royce I like the way did the engine/trans installation,could you tell me how long the two temperay trans straps were bolt center to bolt center, over the years some one put a small block in mine so I can’t my own measurements thanks Randy
Randy I will dig them out and measure them for you today.
I spent the last couple days working on tuning and little annoying things, leaks, hose routing etc. Still need to bleed the brakes. This thing runs fabulous with its original C8OF carburetor.
Royce,
Are you putting a starter delay on?
Looks great! Torino seal?
Mike
C’mon you can’t tell us how great it runs and not post a video for us! 
Too expensive for my budget!
I think the Torino / Cyclone seals are much taller.