While I Have the Engine Out . . .

[MRM]

My beloved 84 Carrera finally needs its transmission rebuilt. The job is way over my head so she's sitting at my local independent shop that still caters to the air cooled market. They suggested that as long as they have to drop the engine to do the transmission that now is the time to take care of anything else that is easier to handle with the engine out.

Adjusting the valves makes sense, but what else would you suggest? It's a fairly low mileage car. The odometer works only intermittently, but I estimate it has about 75,000 miles on it. I am the third owner and have had it since 2000. As far as I know it's never had any significant work done to it. The last several years I've driven it about enough to run through a tank or two of gas, but I plan to make up for lost time.

The only concern I have is an intermittent cough sometimes if I accelerate briskly from low RPMs. I may ask them to track that down as long as the engine is out. I'm thinking she's due for all new belts, check the hoses, brake lines, etc. Anything else I should do or have looked at while the engine is out?

[Bob Kontak]

I'll start with oil breather gasket. You don't want to do that with engine in.

[old man neri]

Look for any broken studs and go from there.

[HaroldMHedge]

What about checking for vacuum leaks and replacing the fuel lines under the intake.

[MRM]

Good suggestions. Would this be a good time to clean out the 1980s-era EPA conversion and go back to a regular Euro exhaust, or is that just as easy with the engine in the car?

[old man neri]

Everything is almost easier with the engine out of the car. I just did a lot of this over the winter so here is a list of 'while you are in there' stuff. Basically, it's anything that is rubber. Funny thing about rubber, it seems to be more affected by time rather than mileage. Any original rubber components in your car are now 35 years old.

- All fuel lines, including the return line that is mostly hard but has a rubber section in it.
- The rubber bushings that are on the inside of the trailing arms.
- Wheel bearings (might be a bit easier with the engine out, a lot easier if you take the trailing arms out).
- Oil return tubes
- Intake gaskets and spacers
- Main crank seal on both ends.
- Oil pressure switch
- Thermostat seal
- Breather gasket
- Oil cooler seals
- Speed and reference sensors
- Cylinder head temperature sensor
- Soft brake lines (not that much easier with the engine out)
- All breather hoses
- vacuum line (s) feeding the brake booster.
- Vacuum lines relating to the fuel charcoal canister
- Clutch
- Chain tensioner oil lines
- Rebuild heater boxes

That's about all I can think about for now. I ending up doing more but some of it, like oil lines or spring plate bushings, don't change whether or not then engine is in. But like I said first look if you have any broken head studs.

[darrin]

what's your oil consumption like?

[EdRogers]

Perfect time to clean the underside and engine/trans compartment!

[rwest]

Replace transmission to chassis ground strap.

[Lyle O]

Replace an aged sound pad on the back wall...

[MRM]

Oil consumption is not noticeable unless I drive at pretty high revs for an extended period. Then it’s a quart per thousand or two miles. It has only a modest seep on the garage floor if we do only relatively gentle Sunday drives. Oil return tubes were done a few years ago. Pretty much everything else is original. Yeah, belts and hoses seem pretty ripe for replacement now that I think about it.

Again, all good suggestions I wouldn’t have known on my own. Nari, your list is comprehensive!