4722 replies to this topic

[Nev]

Thanks dude, a generous offer, but I think 4 hours driving each way on 2 occassions would be unjustifiable If I buy one, at least I can use it again and again whenever things go wrong....

[edwards]

yeh good point mate, im sure things wont go wrong, i will keep my eye on this give me some help when i go for this power next year i see it being easier to buy an astra gsi or somthing though and swapping the engines if you hunt for one for sale with 400bhp+.......or would it not be a better option that way?

[Nev]

I've bitten the bullet and bought a brand new engine crane off eBay. Hopefully it will arrive by Friday, ready for the weekend...

[Duncan VXR]

Brand new - show off I currently now have 2 engine hoists but one is not mine and going back next week, got a 2 ton jobbie from a friend used about 20 times delivered from Swindon for £45 - WIN DG

[Nev]

The engine hoist has landed !

It took over an hour just to assemble it, pics HERE

If things go well, the engine should be out this weekend...

[Duncan VXR]

Good stuff Nev on the car at the weekend if you get stuck give us a bell. Do you have a load balancer for your hoist? Have used one for the last couple I have removed and makes live really easy - especially if your on your own. DG

[siztenboots]

which day are you doing this, looks like I'm busy Saturday, but Sunday is free.

[Duncan VXR]

Thanks Steve hehe but assume you are offering that help to Nev ? Got mine more than covered, would be out by the time you reached me for coffee and catchup DG

[siztenboots]

sorry yes, run out to Bristol.

[Nev]

Thanks for the offer Steve. At the moment JJJ is getting 'permission' from his Mrs to come over as well. Once he know when he will be 'let out' I will put a posting on here or PM you. Ideally if we can, I'd like to extract the gearbox as well, as I hope to put a LSD in it (Jimmy is hoping to put on in his too). Talk soon (please PM me your number if you can Steve)

Edited by Nev, 04 November 2010 - 05:32 PM.

[Nev]

Steve, JJJ is coming over some time after 9.00am on Sunday morning, you are most welcome any time if you'd like to join in ) The weather should be good for a blast if you are still keen.

[Nev]

Sunday was a great success. JJJ (Jimmy) and SizTenBoots (Steve) very kindly came over to my place to help with the engine and gearbox extraction which we accomplished very quickly (just 3.5 hours) and without any hitches.

Many many sincere thanks you you both lads, I would never have made so much progress on my own. It's great to have fellow enthusiasts within .Org to help us along with our crazy and sometimes over ambitious projects

The engine is fully out and on its stand now, and the gearbox has been cracked off it ready for LSD insertion.

I have updated my project website with quite a few new photos and words... WEBSITE UPDATE

Thanks again Steve and Jimmy.

[siztenboots]

just a couple of things to remember to put back / do bottom of turbo water hose, don't lose the clip, actually do lose the clip and put a new jubilee on instead bracket support for electric water pump to gearbox , just realised that I forgot to put bolt back on gb don't damage the vulnerable clutch hardline pipe clean up all those earth points. improve the chargecooler wiring and take the earth back to the engine block. make up a better lower heatshield and bracket. convert lower subframe mounts for undertray over to studs so you can locate and fit it 1000 times easier. fit new rear trackrods and main bolt. repair damaged handbrake cable where wishbone rubs against hook and outer cable. nearly forgot , new hub carrier bolts!

Edited by siztenboots, 08 November 2010 - 09:22 AM.

[steveboyslim]

Sunday was a great success. JJJ (Jimmy) and SizTenBoots (Steve) very kindly came over to my place to help with the engine and gearbox extraction which we accomplished very quickly (just 3.5 hours) and without any hitches.

Many many sincere thanks you you both lads, I would never have made so much progress on my own. It's great to have fellow enthusiasts within .Org to help us along with our crazy and sometimes over ambitious projects

The engine is fully out and on its stand now, and the gearbox has been cracked off it ready for LSD insertion.

I have updated my project website with quite a few new photos and words... WEBSITE UPDATE

Thanks again Steve and Jimmy.

I best get on and finish the block reinforcements, so you can come down to do the final assembly.

Steve

[Nev]

Yes, pronto please Steve as I am now waiting on you. Thanks, Nev.

Edited by Nev, 10 November 2010 - 11:55 AM.

[Nev]

Another minor update about fiddling around with the bulkhead... BULKHEAD STUFF

[Duncan VXR]

Nev might be worth removing the gearbox mount brackets and get them powdercoated / zinc coated or whatever takes your fancy if bothered about them? Bet the decent heat reflective material is 1kg but will do a better job Oh have a look at the bolts that mount the gearbox mounts - I have seen a few that have had movement and rubbed throught the threads and if so replace Rear toe link kit are a bit hard to know if they are near end of life - certainly one area is the bearing drying out or having some play but sometimes they just snap :S given its hard usage I would seriously consider replacing for some new oe ones DG

Edited by Duncan VXR, 11 November 2010 - 09:27 AM.

[Nev]

Thx Duncan, I will inspect the load bearing bolts and the mounts. I have had a good play with the toe links, they really seem good and stiff to me, bear in mind the car has always been kept in a garage and not often taken out in the wet. Heat reflextive stuff will be 1000% better than that stupid felt. Did a load of rust rubbing down and treatment on the wishbones and wisbone mounts this evening. Will paint them up tomorrow to extend their life. The job that I really am not looking fwd to is extracting the fuel pump and replacing it with Sytek one Cliffie sent me. I am scared about fire for a start, even though I have a big extinguisher. How many hours does anyone think it will take (genuinely!) bearing in mind I've never swapped one before ?

Edited by Nev, 11 November 2010 - 08:04 PM.

[techieboy]

I am scared about fire for a start, even though I have a big extinguisher. How many hours does anyone think it will take (genuinely!) bearing in mind I've never swapped one before ?

Don't worry about it too much. I had petrol running out all over the place when I did it and had a cigarette break half way through, after realising I was going to have to remove the pump canister again as the seal was leaking like a sieve after filling the car up. That wasn't good as I had a ProAlloy tank and the fill level is higher than the pump outlet. So, removing it again meant a couple of gallons of fuel pissing out everywhere on the drive.

Are you going in from the top by enlarging the hole? If so, I'd guess 2-3 hours from start to finish.

[Nev]

Christ Techie, it's a wonder that you survived all that petrol running about ! Thanks for the time estimate. I just checked my website, I've had over 25,000 hits, with an average stay of over 5 minutes.

Edited by Nev, 11 November 2010 - 09:01 PM.