Replacing Engine - With Photos as I Progress - DONE!

[coise]

Yes, the trick with the piece of glass works really well, I did it with my valve covers and had no more tiny leaks at the gasket.

[81SPIDERMATT]

HOW IS THE PROGRESS?????

[focodave]

HOW IS THE PROGRESS?????

Hood is off and the old block is loose and ready to come out.
Just waiting for the new engine to arrive before I go any further.
I should be receiving the new engine in about 2 weeks, if all goes well.

[81SPIDERMATT]

keep me posted..... sure would be cool to make the show for the 2nd of june.... as schedule allows i will help all that i can to make that happen

[focodave]

Matt,
Again, you are too kind.
I will let you know as the time gets closer. Many thanks.
In the meantime, I've spent some time just piddling and doing some cleaning and detailing of various components:




Here are a couple more shots of the doghouse with the old block still in place and ready to be pulled:


More to come in the next few weeks....

[focodave]

Pulled the old engine today.
I couldn't wait for the new one to arrive -- it's been killing me going out in the garage and looking at my car, just waiting -- so I went out and bought a cheapo crane from Harbor Freight (only $100 with a super-coupon) and yanked out the old engine this afternoon.
Matt, I greatly appreciate your multiple generous offers to assist. Like I said, I just got a bug up my arse and decided to pull the engine this afternoon in the heat of the moment!
My new engine should arrive next Wednesday.
Unfortunately, I won't get my car back together for the all-Italian show in Broomfield.
That's OK.
There is a lot of quality driving time ahead of me this year and I should have her back on the road in about 2 weeks.
Photos:

[81SPIDERMATT]

no problem.... i am a bug kind of guy also.... cant believe you waited as long as you did... but the offer still stands... would love to come and help for the assembly....and i mean that ... please .. would love to help... be a great learning experience... plan on keeping my car FOREVER.... so i am sure somewhere down the road i would be grateful that i had been there done that if you know what i mean...but i understand when you tell the story... "and i did it all by myself" will be a good addition ..(your secret is safe with me) .. and if garage space is tight when you are finished betting you could flip the hoist on craigslist pretty easily .....

also would be curious to hear from those in the know if there are things that should be checked while the car is in the state it is now ???????

[docgyro550]

Looks like you are doing a great job so far. Just went through this ordeal. Wait tip you put the starter back in. much harder than taking it out. Someone mentioned a long extension and a swivel and they are right. It does help to have another body on the top side to help guide bolts back in. Something I always do is use black gasket adhesive and only to the "part" side, not the block side of the gasket. Just in case you have to remove the part from the block when you get it back in you are not bent over scraping in the engine compartment. We mounted the exhaust manifold and the intake to the engine before dropping it back in. Also cleaned and painted engine compartment before replacing engine. It takes time and you must remove all electrical components mounted in the fender wells but do them one at a time and wrap in tin foil and the results are a very clean and easy to see everything engine compartment. One more word, CLEAN! Makes a big diff. When we removed ours, the head was off which made it easy to bolt chain on. However, when the repaired head was on we used those thin moving straps wrapped around engine but not interfering with any contact surfaces. Put engine in and slide straps out. Ta-dah.

[focodave]

the only time I've seen seized rod bearings is when the oil pump pickup is broken off. You can leave the mounts in place when you remove the motor. Removing the tranny bolts is much easier if you have a 36" extension and a swivel socket

Rod Bearing #2 confirmed -- ROACHED!
Oil pickup was in place and I am very anal about changing oil and filters on my car.
I've only owned it for about 2 years, and I've put about 1000 miles on it.
It has 120K total miles on the odometer.
My guess is that some previous neglectful owner ran the car low on oil, etc., in its long history and now I am feeling the effects of it!
Photos follow -- you can see the bearing insert completely messed up along with the scored crank:

[docgyro550]

Also make sure your head is level. If you don't have a straight edge take the head to a machine shop and let them check. May as well have them deck it a little and get a dab more compression.

[focodave]

"New" engine arrived yesterday.
I'm pretty jazzed about getting this in the car.
It's got 10.2:1 pistons, stock cams, and stock head.
At Colorado altitude, I figure it will be running around 9:1 compression ratio.
I'll run slightly cooler plugs and back the timing off a few degrees and I think I should be OK on 91 Octane pump gas.
Anxious to get back on the road!

[81SPIDERMATT]

SWEET


work friday .... available all weekend if you need some help

[fiat218]

You ordered a long block? Already put together

[focodave]

SWEET


work friday .... available all weekend if you need some help

Matt, Many thanks. I'll let you know. Are you not going to the all-Italian show in Broomfield this Sunday?

You ordered a long block? Already put together

Jim,
Yes, I ordered a long block already assembled. I usually don't trust anyone else building engines for me but this was the most practical thing for me, given my travel schedule and my wanting to get the car back on the road right away. The builder sent me a video of my engine running on their test stand, so I at least know it ran successfully for a few minutes. It sounded pretty sweet!

[81SPIDERMATT]

SWEET


work friday .... available all weekend if you need some help

Matt, Many thanks. I'll let you know. Are you not going to the all-Italian show in Broomfield this Sunday?

CRAP is that this sunday??... yes ... yes i am going.... are you going to look around ????


so sat helper.... got monday off too .... that will be it for me... got a friend coming into town on thursday... disapearing for 2 weeks into the hills