Bay Area Pelicans drop an engine and G50 tranny

[cantdrv55]

It still amazes me just how powerful this BBS is. Total strangers meet in cyberspace and then commit to help each other work on their cars. Most of us drove many many miles to help out Zoanas and we were happy to do so. I, for one, have been looking forward to starting this project since the first post weeks ago. Now that the engine drop is done, I can't wait to put it back in!

Anyway, it was great finally matching usernames with faces. All in all, the drop went very smoothly because we had talented, knowledgeable and generous Pelicans willing to donate their time and tools to help a fellow P-car enthusiast.

Now to the pics!



Eleven Pelicans showed up to help. From left to right, Zoanas, Vash (under the car), Moazam, Aigel (with hat and shades on top), Dan the Cat and Slider taking a knee.

[cantdrv55]

Yelcab1 hard at work. Good thing he came because he was the only one in the group who's ever dropped a 3.2 motor. We hit a little snag though with the G50 tranny. No one knew how to separate it from the motor so we had to look it up in the Bentley's and make a couple of tool runs to get the proper size rod to get the cross shaft out.

[cantdrv55]

Here's a better pic of the gang, sorta. Left to right - Spud in gray shorts, Zoanas, Moazam, Yelcab, Slider, Aigel sitting down and Dan the Cat. Vash is still under the car - I think he's camera shy!

[cantdrv55]

Oops forgot that pic. Here it is...

Not sure if an ATV jack worked better than a regular one under the motor. We eventually ditched it.

[cantdrv55]

Here's Zoanas, the P-car addict. He really gets into his car.


We're putting this baby back in next weekend.


Hey Zoanas, don't forget to add Magnecor wires to your shopping list.

[andyu911]

Looks like you guys had a fun day. Are you replacing the clutch? or some other repair? Here's a picture of my brother got stuck under the hood last time we dropped the engine and tranny.

[vash]

hey, i was having a bad hair day.

it was actually a piece of cake. not bad for a bunch of SC guys wrenching on a carrera. we had a few, "what the heck it that?" going on. like the clutch slave. yelcab better show up next weekend on the re install, because i think he took about 80% of the top stuff apart. beer was good. nice guys, nice weather, and thank god for nitrile gloves. BTW, with all the joking around, it took about 2.5 hours.

cliff

[moazam]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Not sure if an ATV jack worked better than a regular one under the motor. We eventually ditched it.

The ATV jack sucked. There were 2 times where it could have caused some damage. Maybe a different type of ATV jack would have been better, but judging from the overall experience I think the regular jacks worked great.

[ZOA NOM]

Outstanding guys.

I can't tell you how cool this is. I'm having a ball with this project. I managed to do some cleaning after everybody left yesterday, and I just finished up adjusting the valves. I'll probably re-check 'em three more time before I'm satisfied. I also cleaned up the engine bay quite a bit, and installed the new sound pad. (Sorry AIGEL, I know you like it LOUD) Also put in the new motor mounts. I haven't priced the shock yet, but that might happen. Tomorrow I go in search of blast media and a powder coat shop in town.

Again, I can't even express how cool the Pelican community is. I am in for LIFE.

[vash]

what is going on with the clutch? ya know that loose part?

[ZOA NOM]

I'm gonna talk to my wrench tomorrow about it. Prolly a TO bearing. I plan to have him get me the TO bearing, and new needle bearings for the cross-shaft.

[yelcab1]

Your TO bearing is toast, Zoanas. While you are at it, I did notice that you did not have the upgraded cross-shaft for the G50 transmission, and the Magnecor wires, and new bilstein shocks, and brass bushings for the throttle linkages. And the intake manifolds need painting, as do the fan and fan housing, and the engine shroud. And the muffler needs sand blasting, as do the heat exchangers. And, all that oil leak.

I got $10 that says this engine is not going in next weekend. You'll have too much fun messing with it.

[aigel]

ZOANAS:

Bay Area Media Blasting
(925) 449-3400 3589 1st St # A
Livermore

They do everything automotive, including entire cars. I am not sure if they powdercoat, but am positive they can steer you in the right direction if they don't. This place is known far beyond Livermore. Some of the muscle car guys I know bring all their bits there. I had talked to them before and they were very helpful.

Sound pad? It will only crumble to shreds like your old one. Think of all the extra weight! How will you hear the difference when drilling holes into your air box???

Later,

George

[Jim Smolka]

cantdrv55 ,

FWIW, I have a tech article on doing the clutch in a G50 car. Drop me a note, and I well send it to you.

Also, brake cleaner works very nice for cleaning up the intake manifolds. Good time to adj the valves too

[Rick Lee]

Excellent! I had the exact same experiece with the NoVA gang about two years ago. Our photos are strikingly similar. No chance in the world you're putting that back in next weekend. Once an engine has come out of the car, it won't run again unless you paint the valve covers. You'll need to adjust valves and replace a bunch of gaskets too. If you work every night this week, you MAY have it running next weekend. BTW, we used an ATV jack too, but cut a pallet to fit the heat X-ers just right and really worked well.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by Jim Smolka
cantdrv55 ,

FWIW, I have a tech article on doing the clutch in a G50 car. Drop me a note, and I well send it to you.

Also, brake cleaner works very nice for cleaning up the intake manifolds. Good time to adj the valves too

Hi Jim,

I wouldn't mind having a copy of that but Zoanas is really the one who needs it. Hopefully, he'll chime in here with his email address. Thanks.

[vash]

dont forget new hardware to put your axles back!

[slider]

hey guys - enjoyed the day and terrific meeting all of you. Can't say I added much value, but what a great experience. Vash was right - where were all the Carrera guys? Lots of very pretty SCs and Spud's 356.

Joe

[braddb_82SC]

Sounds like I missed out on some good local Porsche bonding time.
I pulled the engine on my 'SC six months ago so I might have been able to contribute. Perhaps I could have leant my modified furniture dolly.
At the time I also meant to have the engine back in the car the following weekend. The car is my daily transportation after all. Over the next six weeks I grew accustomed to using public transportation!


I spent this entire past weekend finishing my suspension refurbishment by installing 28 mm rear torsion bars and neatrix spring plate bushings. I drove my car to my mechanic this morning for a tire install + alignment + corner balance. He informed me that I need to adjust the t-bars one spline in order to achieve the ride height I want. After some driving last night and this morning the rear end has only settled 3/4 inch from its post-jacked up height. I'm still 5/8 inches too high. This is too high for a simple spring-plate adjustment. Looks like I'll be spending two more greasy nights on this project.

-Brad

[ubiquity0]

Brad,
whats your first impression of the ride? Stiff over these crappy Bay Area roads?