An exercise in Mexellence (my 86 hatch project)

[mexellent]

Yeah, sorry guys. Been busy with school, but I passed all my classes, so now im back!

Anyway, I bought a rebuilt engine from one of the guys here in dfw and since i didnt know if mine was good or not I figured now would be a good time to swap it.


The new pumper. Exciting! Its just a 3-rib but its all gravy.




Bless this mess! It looks much worse in real life.




So imagine my surprise when we yanked out the engine and I counted 7 ribs on the side! Merry Xmas tooo meeee!!! =D




ENGINE PULL GREAT SEXESSS!!!!


Yeah, so now we gotta prep everything to get it back in the car ASAP. As we pulled the engine stuff we realized alot of this crap is going to need to be replaced. =( but oh well, its gotta be done.

[dr.occa]

glad to see you're back alex and congrats on your academic success.

but um, the HOA is coming aftah yo a55!

[MadeInThe80s]

glad to see you're back alex and congrats on your academic success.

but um, the HOA is coming aftah yo a55!

True that, but if he puts the hood back on it will look like its just parked.

Now I guess its see who can get their motor back in and running faster! I bet you win lol.

[mexellent]

lol. Well its my daily driver, so its gotta be running again by mid january.

And yeah, with the hood on and the coilovers its hard to tell there is an engine missing. Only if someone taddles will i be in trouble.

[mexellent]

So yesterday I was pretty gung ho about working on my car. The 3-rib engine I was planning on putting in my car had a dented oil pan and the 7-rib engine I had just taken out of my car didn't. So I take off the oil pan and my brother pablo is like "Hey we should take a look at the rod bearings since were in here." I was reluctant but I agreed since putting an engine in a car is quite a bit of work. So we take off the number 3 cylinder rod cap and the bearing is scored. Same for 2. So now Im kind of SOL.

My plan right now is to eff the 3-rib and put my efforts into the 7-rib. I know that the headgasket on it is leaking so I would have to put some attention into that. I am banking on the fact that the bottom end is good on the 7-rib and I wouldnt have to touch it.

[dr.occa]

if all that is the matter w/ the 7-rib is the head gasket, my vote is to put your energy behind the 7-rib alex.

[mooreofit]

me too.

[mexellent]

Ok!

Today we tore down the 7-rib and did a leakdown test on it. It appears that the number 2 cyl is leaking from the exhaust valves. All other cylinders had 5% leakage.

So Im getting ready to take apart the engine and I want to make sure I check it right as I take it apart.

What tools will I need besides a torque wrench, dial indicator, and micrometer?

[mexellent]

Also, my engine is covered with this gunk type stuff. How do I get it off? Well, I can get it off im just wondering if there is an easy way to do it.

[dr.occa]

bring it to a car wash and pressure wash it there so the HOA don't come rape you in your sleep . ok, maybe rape is too harsh of a word

[mexellent]

Haha...

I guess youve had alot of experience with the HOA, huh?

[dr.occa]

Haha...

I guess youve had alot of experience with the HOA, huh?

LOL. thankfully no but many family and friends have horror stories. not all HOA's are ran by busy bodies and totalitarian wannabe's but it's the ones that are that give the rest of them a bad rep. "one bad apple ruins the whole bunch" as the old adage goes.

any more pics of your progress alex?

[mexellent]

Some updates.

The engine is torn apart and is currently getting rebuilt by Tandem Automotive. I also just got back my manifold and valve covers from the powdercoaters. They look SLICK. I cant wait until theyre in the car

[daveskatesallday]

degreaser will work wonders

[dr.occa]

looking good alex. looking forward to seeing the whole shibang together.