by "My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
Published 05/11/2017 at 12:02
by "My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
Published 05/11/2017 at 12:02
Tags: Engine rebuild
; Trans Am
STARS: 3
I will be working on pulling the engine/tranny out this week, weather provided (it’s quite overcast right now). Going to pick up an engine hoist from a friend this evening.
Primary concerns:
getting it out the first time will be a bitch. I hope I have enough time because I thought I would have all next week off. Nope! my university in their infinite wisdom decided to start the summer semester immediately with no break. tearing my hair out a bit.
I hope the engine bearings/ piston rings are ok. ‘cause I aint touching them.
Doing this mostly myself, blind. The actual disassembly should be easy, but I am seriously concerned I will mess up the gaskets on reassembly.
Most importantly: Rusty bolts. That should be the only thing (and probably will actually) prevent me from pulling this thing apart. I have kroil, PB blaster but none of those matter because I have run into bolts that are so rusted they have made a seal around themselves with rust. Going to try heat, I don’t have acetylene but my dad has mapp gas and hopefully that is sufficient. might have to take it to the machine shop to be drilled/tapped.
Couple of questions if oppo has the time:
any recommendations of chemicals to clean engine internals? thinking about just using straight gasoline. probably not doing much of this.
recommendation for mounting points for the hoist? pulling my engine and tranny out at the same time, probably going to remove my front clip if I can get it loose. gotta pull those parts off anyhow so no big loss.
Once that is all done, getting it back in should be a breeze. Ill let oppo know how it goes. Expect a post this evening!
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
05/11/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 1
any recommendations of chemicals to clean engine internals? thinking about just using straight gasoline. probably not doing much of this.
Really any of the engine degreaser stuff at an auto store will be OK. Biggest thing will be a gasket scraper. You want those surfaces to be clean so they seal. I don’t know if you really want to bother cleaning piston surfaces and so on. Externally foamy engine brite and a powerwasher should get the engine clean enough for a repaint.
recommendation for mounting points for the hoist?
intake to head bolts. Run the bolts down a bit, too.
pulling my engine and tranny out at the same time, probably going to remove my front clip if I can get it loose. gotta pull those parts off anyhow so no big loss.
If you use an engine leveler you can probably get the e&t out without removing sheet metal. Just be careful, make sure you disconnect everything, and watch the distributor cap.
Most importantly: Rusty bolts. That should be the only thing (and probably will actually) prevent me from pulling this thing apart.
Regarding rusty bolts, when the engine is out and you have room try to use an impact gun wherever possible. FWIW I’ve had plenty of oh fuck this thing will never come apart moments that were just fine with the gun.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 0
Moreso bolts snapping, not just a lack of torque. they didn’t use hardend fasteners anywhere so I gotta be really gentle or the round/snap right off.
"StoneCold" (StoneCold)
05/11/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 1
Can you get anyone to give you a hand for the actual pull? It is exponentially easier if one person can guide the engine/trans and another can brace and move the hoist. Always wear gloves and eye protection!
I’ve used brake cleaner and that GUNK parts cleaner to decent effect for rods and pistons.
Intake to block bolts is where I usually pull from for my Windsor small blocks (a couple of thick washers between chain and bolt head),
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
05/11/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 1
Nah, I’m not talking torque. The hammering of the air gun can break the fastener loose and prevent a snap.
"jimz" (jimz)
05/11/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 1
don’t use gasoline as a parts cleaner. it’s volatile enough to be dangerously flammable, but not volatile enough to evaporate quickly.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 0
That’s fine, I gotta make a trip to the store anyhow. gotta pick up some WD:40 to keep the engine from rusting overnight.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 12:31, STARS: 0
Help? With the way this week is going? Who knows? Hopefully I can get some help but this whole project has already gone from relaxed to cock salad.
"EngineerWithTools" (engineerwithtools)
05/11/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 1
Awwww yeah. I learned to drive manual in a ‘78 TA, whose 6.6 engine now resides in my dad’s ‘86 t-top-less TA. (I’ll need to find a garage for it when he finally decided he’s too old to wrench.)
Not to disparage Mr. Molly’s comments in any way, but I’d stay away from the intake bolts, both because they’re not huge and because they’re on the top, so if you put them through a chain link, you’ll get a decent amount of prying. If you pick up some of the holes on the front and back of the heads and wrench them down tight, you’ll get more shear and less prying. (But... I will openly admit I’m likely overly cautious about these things.)
Something like...
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
05/11/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0
Have speedydry or kitty litter handy. No mater how hard you try not to you are going to make a mess.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
05/11/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 0
Rubbing some motor oil all over it should stop rust for a little bit.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 12:45, STARS: 0
That is an interesting swap, that thing must haul ass.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 12:47, STARS: 0
Its out in my parent’s driveway... so personally I don’t care if I spill anything :D
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
05/11/2017 at 12:48, STARS: 0
It still sucks when you go to work on something under the car and roll over into a pool of coolant.
"Nibbles" (nibbles)
05/11/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 1
Didn’t realize you were secretly Joe Biden
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 1
Nah, Biden is actually a vette guy because he isn’t enough of a man to own a T/A
http://jalopnik.com/5977200/real-joe-biden-calls-out-fake-joe-biden-over-corvette-v-trans-am-love
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
05/11/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 1
Going to offer a correction based on Engineerwithtools’ post:
I use intake to head holes because I always use a leveler with four points of attachment. If you are pulling with just a chain, do as he described and use the accessory bolt holes.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
05/11/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
Not disparaging at all; I corrected my post. I never pull with just a chain and for some reason figured he was using a leveler.
"EngineerWithTools" (engineerwithtools)
05/11/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 0
Cool. A leveler certainly makes it MUCH easier. Otherwise, much engine wrestling, which is neither very safe nor fun.
"EngineerWithTools" (engineerwithtools)
05/11/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 0
If by “haul ass” you mean “completely unable to hook up at anything above about 25% throttle”, then yes. But the sound, oh, the sound.
"Meatcoma" (mastapoof)
05/11/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 1
even a propane torch will help loosen bolts, mapp gas is fine.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 1
Ill have to see what I am working with once I get the hoist from my friend
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/11/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
yup, that’s what I meant. The torque is a revolution. I never want to go back to high revving small displacement turbos again.