[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by Dr K

Anybody know how tight to make the nuts? Not that I can get a torque wrench anywhere near either end... When I did the left side, I started the engine and tightened until the oil stopped leaking, then tightened another 1/6 of a turn (or so).

Yeah, I believe torque is trial-and-error . With copper crush washers, I don't think it's always consistant. You want it just tight enough to not leak.

[Dr K]

Work Day this Saturday! Hopefully parts will arrive so I can install the exhaust system... Feel free to come by and gawk, laugh, and eat my food!

Prior to Saturday, hope to:

Put engine on stand
Remove old exhaust system
Complete wiring at fuse box
Complete installation of front bumper

Over the weekend, plans are to:

Install stainless steel exhaust system
Use engine hoist to remove engine from engine stand
Fill transmission with Swepco
Mate engine to transmission
Install in car
Install oil lines from thermostat to engine
Install axle stubs
Install axles (tighten clamps first, my tool broke)
Crimp main power wire (hot) spade fitting
Complete installation of emergency shut-off switch
Start car?!

If the above goes well, or if others are present and tired of gawking and laughing:

Wire headlights and front turn signal lights
Install headlights
Find short in L tail lights and fix
Install front tow hook
Install rear tow hook

Left to do next week:

All the stuff above we don't actually get to
Install stiffer sway bars
Install front strut inserts (custom-valved Billsteins)
Install shift knob
Reinstall seat
Install passenger seat
Install up-to-date harnesses
Install rear sway bar mounts and sway bar
Have the car aligned and corner-balanced.

Plan to start work at 9 AM on Saturday (and 10 AM on Sunday). I calculated all of the above (excluding alignment/corner balancing) is about 30 hours of work, although broken exhaust studs will dramatically increase that estimate.

[Dr K]

Update - last night I borrowed a stand and yoke from OldTee, and an engine hoist from Bill M. Tonight I assembled both before Andrew came over (we had a nice dinner: chicken on the grill, fresh broccoli, rice pilaf, fresh-baked bread (not baked here, though), and Pepperidge Farm cookies), then we put the yoke on the engine:



Raised the engine with the hoist (needed to raise one side a little first using the jack and a 4x6, so it would clear sliding under the hoist). Thanks to TR and OldTee for advice in mounting the yoke, and TR and Bill M for advice hooking up the hoist (I know you'll all find this hard to believe since I'm such a wrench, but I've never done this before). If you're wondering about the wood, it's to keep the chain from pressing too hard on the intake tower - it worked, too.



Following advice from Bill M, we raised the engine pretty high, and lifted the stand to slide it over the yoke, rather than manhandling the engine to get it angled to fit in the stand. Easy Peasy. Other than driving to Darnestown to get the hoist, this was really easy, and could easily be done by one person with limited experience and slightly less limited common sense.





Then Andrew and I took off the exhaust system, except the heat exchangers. Sprayed the nuts/studs liberally with WD-40. Bill M loaned me some special tools, and OldTee is going to come over tomorrow (with Andrew) to try to help get the head exchanges off. Hopefully he'll bring his truck, so we can load the engine onto it using the hoist to take it to Matt De Maria's and get the studs drilled out, just in case. All the nuts came off for the exhaust (most were off last summer) except for 1, which had to be cut off. I'm a little worried about tomorrow...

[Trak Ratt]

Nice, heat is your friend!

[antonioconceicao]

What kind of stainless steel exhaust system did you get??? Its nice to see that you are on the top of everything. Great dinner menu, do you serve that on Sat and Sundays??

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by antonioconceicao

What kind of stainless steel exhaust system did you get??? Its nice to see that you are on the top of everything.

It's custom, can't remember the maker but 3 letters. Not a pure header, but willing to make that compromise to get heat exchangers (for now).

Originally Posted by antonioconceicao

Great dinner menu, do you serve that on Sat and Sundays??

that kind of menu (which also included sitting with my wife - even more of a treat than the food) is only for those who have spent multiple days over helping on the car. You have to work up to it...

[Dr K]

Damn. Snapped my first exhaust stud this morning. Went out to put on a bit more WD-40 and "set up vibration" in the studs/nuts, and decided I'd see if any were loose. Using a 3/8" drive I put about 40 ft-pounds of pressure and 2 barrel nuts came right off. The 3rd gave a tiny creak, then snapped off just below the nut (some will still be sticking out above the engine when the thick flange is off). Didn't use heat because wasn't using much pressure.

I'm done messing this up until I have someone over who knows what they're doing. I made an appointment to bring it over to Matt's Saturday afternoon. Will discuss with OldTee and might wait until Saturday to do some of the rest, depending on feedback from OldTee. The one I just broke might be removable without drilling since it comes up above the level of the engine.

Peter

[Lupin..the..3rd]

Originally Posted by Dr K

The cam line has the support bracket, but as the oil line in question is the earlier design (original?? Design was changed in 1987 to accommodate the support bracket, according to Pelican) the bracket holds the line quite close to the upper fitting rather than just before the bend.

Pics? I'd like to see which support bracket you're looking at, if it's different from my '87.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by Dr K

Using a 3/8" drive I put about 40 ft-pounds of pressure... 3rd gave a tiny creak, then snapped off just below the nut... Didn't use heat because wasn't using much pressure.

I'm done messing this up...
Peter

Can't wait, won't listen... just move this to the fail thread!!!

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

Can't wait, won't listen... just move this to the fail thread!!!

Like I'm not feeling bad (and stupid) enough already, boy-o