Engine Install - Sunday Nov 11

[Native]

Put me down for a big fat maybe.

[Loren]

Put me down for a big fat maybe.

That's what I've already got a bunch of!

We're not in dire need for help. Dan and I can drop in a 120-pound engine. But, it would be nice to know if more people are going to be there.

[Native]

Sorry dude. My back has been whining at me, and I gotta see how I feel after the trailer today and tomorrow.
Talk to you Saturday.

[Rawkkrawler]

I'll be there at 8:30. I'll be heading to the Bucs game so I'm good for a couple of hours.

[Native]

Motor swaps and football. That's a Sunday!

[Loren]

Aw, hell, we've got Mike for a couple hours. We'll have no problem meeting the deadline!

[Rawkkrawler]

Aw, hell, we've got Mike for a couple hours. We'll have no problem meeting the deadline!

Better dig out the chairs, we may even have time to sit around and stare at stuff.

[Loren]

Do you remember how to do drum brakes? That's on the secondary agenda.

Cathy baked some kick-ass cookies. I ate one. Might have to eat another one later. Dieting sucks!

[Loren]

Flywheel and clutch are installed w/ Loctite and torqued. One step closer.

[dbeng]

Sounds good!
See you in the morning.

[Native]

I'll be there.
Take pictures of the brakes before you take em apart.

[Loren]

Take pictures of the brakes before you take em apart.

I've been pretty good about that these days, it's so easy to do. I also never take both sides apart at the same time, so I can refer back to the other side.

But, I still hate drum brakes.

See y'all tomorrow!

[twistedwankel]

But, I still hate drum brakes.

Because the adjusters are right and left hand thread. Do it wrong and the brakes will fail.

[Magooiii]

But, I still hate drum brakes.

me too

[Loren]

Ended up putting off the rear brakes for another day.

But, Dan Brentall, Mike Dassatti, and Steve Frank were all present this morning for the main event. We had the engine in and test-started by right about 11:00!

Then we broke for a relaxed lunch at Tampa Bay Brewing. (thanks, Dan!)

After that, we took another 2 hours to get everything else buttoned up. Finished the front brake swap. Got everything torqued, checked, and rechecked with the engine, exhaust, suspension and brakes. And we were out driving by about 3:00!

First drive was almost perfect. We just puttered around the neighborhood to knock to rust off of the brake rotors. But, there was a disturbing intermittent scraping noise still present after the brakes had settled in.

Turns out it was the brake rotor barely contacting the end of my custom lower control arm. When cornering, it made more contact... and noise. Odds are, it would have self-clearanced itself. It was already well on its way! But, I opted to pull the wheel and the rotor, and go after it with the angle grinder. Didn't take long, just took off maybe 3/16" off of it. Checked it for clearance. Took a little more off of the back edge (the wheel turns more on the side inside of the turn... Ackerman!) Got good clearance on both sides. Added some paint. Good to go!



After fixing that, we gave it a good shake-down run. And it's very obviously got more grunt! Even with Dan in the passenger seat, it felt peppier. Woohoo!

Thanks for all the help and encouragement, guys!

[ImpostorDan]

Congratulations!

[CaptainSquirts]

Line of shame is going to be that much higher now.

[Loren]