Making it to Orange

[ridgey_didge]

Some nasty engine noises started to come from under my bonnet coming home to Canberra from the Cooma Motorfest at the end of last year.  The diagnosis was big end trouble, and so my FE moves from completed cars to Members' projects, with a deadline of getting it right to get to Orange looming.

So from this:







Its a Repco Goldstar replacement motor that went in in 1985 and has done 19,000 miles.  Most of those were in 1985-1987, as a daily drive.  The car was off the road from 1987 for about 18 years while kids and other commitments took priority.  In the past 5 years there was one year on full rego, and then onto concessional.  About 2,000 miles travelled in the past 5 years.

[DN2168]

David,

Have you considered getting an engine off Ebay, even if it shits itself after you get back from Orange you'll still have a spare.

Dean.

[ridgey_didge]

So to some dismantling (thanks for the help Col):







And some heavy lifting:



And the offending part:



Some nasty arthritis there.

The challenge now is to get it all sorted for Orange.

[ridgey_didge]

I've got a team beavering away on trying to get the motor rebuilt motor and in. I'm undertaking the lovely task of degreasing and cleaning and making things look new(ish). 

Lots to do and so little time.  Deep breath in, breathe out and repeat until calm.

Cheers
David

[freddyc]

sounds like "labour pains". Labour of love

[EffCee]

David,

I hope all goes well, you should be able to get it back together in time for Orange, bugger about the bearing though.

Keith

[RET]

Best of luck with it, Dave. You've got a pretty handy off-sider there, you'll be right.

cheers
RET

[ridgey_didge]

It turns out that most of the black on the walls of the engine bay is not paint, but  sound deadener with years of oil and muck on it.  In places it is coming away to reveal the original colour underneath.  Its not in fabulous condition, but suprisingly good all things considered.  More shots to come after I get several hours more done this weekend.

Cheers
David

[Johns]

Believe me David I feel your pain - twice!

Good luck with it.

Cheers
John

[ridgey_didge]

Thanks for that John.  All the clean up is done except for the panels either side of the radiator.  The photos I promised are yet to be taken - I really have been flat out at it whenever possible and I am usually too mucky to handle the camera and then its is too late to be bothered.

I may get the motor back this weeknd, so I am just ploughing ahead and trying not to panic.

Cheers
David

[GOA350]

Don't rush it, make sure you go over everything, i would hate to see you miss something and stuff up everything you have done.

[ridgey_didge]

Here are some shots of the engine bay cleaned of the sound deadener and with the paint underneath seeing the light of day again.





There are rough bits but alot more will come up better with some cutting polish.  There appears to be a layer of yellow paint over the original beige.  The yellow is polishing off in places.

Oh, and did I mention the engine went back in today and started like a dream - more to come.

Cheers
David

[colt]

A quick note to all of you who are doing major engine work. When removing / installing engines, make sure you wear a WHITE t-shirt. It wakes it so much easier to find all the dirt and grease. I wore a white one again today, I found it all AGAIN! Maybe I should follow GP's lead, he wore overalls. Much smarter!

BTW, why are you on the computer Ridgey Didge? You have more work to do!

Love a grey motor, so sweet!

Colin.

[gp]

Yes David, why are you on the computer when there's so much work to be done!   ;D

[colt]

Dave, you can stop work now & get back on the computer. Where are those piccies?

[ridgey_didge]

OK - here they are:











A big thankyou to colt and gp and others for assistance on the day getting it in and all connected up.

Orange is definitely back in the picture.

See you all there!

David

[pedro]

What a difference, compare the first engine bay shot to the last and it looks like a different car, nice job David.
             Pedro

[NosFEratu]

What a difference, compare the first engine bay shot to the last and it looks like a different car

It certainly does Ollie!  :D

[DN2168]

Glad to see you'll make it David.

Dean.

[Paul In Ireland]

Who resprayed the engine? Was that you or part of the engine rebuild? Looks good!


Paul
8)