It's running again

[ischmitz]

This past weekend I stabbed the 3.6 engine back into the brown Targa. It was out to perform various small upgrades to the transmission and the engine (stock air filter, engine mounts, transmission mount, regular service, oil lines to the thermostat, single piece bearing retainer, seals, etc).

The images below show the one-man process of putting the engine back in. I raise the rear end of the car with two floor jacks using the jack pad adapters. The engine meanwhile sits on a dolly and I use a small floor jack under the transmission cross member to adjust the pitch of the entire package. This works well and there is no danger of the engine dropping down at any point. I use jack stands as safety. Then I essentially lower the car slowly onto the engine until the car rests on the jack stands on the torsion bar tubes. In the process I make sure the engine does not hit anything of the car.

Once the shift selector is inside the tunnel I can use one jack unter the engine and lift it fully into place to get the engine and transmission bolts started. We are talking only 3 inches of lift.

By the way the car runs like a champ, maybe it was just the extended withdrawl. But the new sport engine mounts seem to make a difference. The car feels more defined and precise in turns. MikeZ and I went down to Mulholland on Sunday. It was a blast. Here are some pictures.


Here is the engine on the yellow dolly and car lifted up



A shot under the car with the half axles packed up



The car is lowered and sits on the jack stands. One jack is used to fully lift the engine and get the transmission mount bolts started. Then the engine bolts are put in



It's in after about one hour. Now everything needs to be re-connected, fill it up with oil and off I go

BTW: There sure were some setbacks. First I broke the final drive housing of the tranmission in my first attempt to put the engine back in. I use a little transmission to generate the electric speedo signal for my later gauges. This part pointed into the wrong direction and sheered off the threaded part of the mechanic speedo output flange. A good friend exchanged my broken housing with a good one. I owe him lot's of beer. Next, when the engine was in of course the car wouldn't start. Dead battery. That was an easy fix. And finally, my old rubber fuel line ruptured during cranking. Off to Kragen and 12$ later I was finally up and running. Overall it was a very successful weekend....

[zbph10]

Nice work, and pictures, I putting mine back in this week.

Brian

[Joe Bob]

That's my red jack on the right......%^B

Make sure I get it back,,,,,

[DByers]

Ingo, Looks like you made it! Sorry no call but my house has been sick beyond repair. We all passed it around now Shane has it so I am stuck @ home with him today.
So glad there is work tomorrow to save me from HOUSEHOLDHELL!

[Vipergrün]

Ingo, yer a stud! Miss ya'll Santa Barbara folk! Cannot even imagine you and Zois on Mulhulland.....God help the neighbors You gotta get out there Dan! At least you are not snowed in