Engine Crane

The engine crane has been a asembled and is all ready to go. So the next step will be to disconnect all the connections to the engine and attach the engine crane and undo the engine mounts. I'm not sure when I will do this. That will depend on discussions I have with the engine re-builder and to a lesser extent finances. I still haven't figured out how much maneuvering will be required once the engine is freed and lifted out but I imagine I'll be able to swing it around and load it straight onto the back of the ute. I was thinking of perhaps creating a wooden crate for the engine to make it easier to transport. I first need to establish whether I need to remove all the bits and pieces from the engine, for example the exhaust, the water pump, the clutch and get box starter motor generator and other peripherals. I am guessing I will need to strip it right back.

Yesterday i managed to disconnect some of the brake line which i will bring to Rotorua and polish and paint and then bring back and reconnect. I will then disconnect a little more of the brake linings once the engine has been removed and it is easier to get it.

You can see where i have started cleaning the running gear a little. This is just after a few minutes of work so given few days most of the front part of the running gear should be able to be cleaned up and made ready for painting. 

Distractions -now back into it

It's been a little while since I've done any work on the Pontiac. We have been busy doing renovations and moving furniture getting ready to rent out our beach house.

The next big job on the Pontiac is to remove the engine and take it in to get it bored and and whatever other work is required to the engine. The measurements I took on the bore indicates there is tapering and uneven bore size which probably accounts for excessive smoke and oil usage. The engine needs sorting.

Soon i will take on the task of removing the engine when all the other stuff is moved out of the shed and I have some more room.

  I have purchased an engine crane which is still in the box . This was quite good value at 250 dollars from super cheap autos.

The other thing I'm thinking of doing is taking my spare engine apart a little to discover what usable parts can be found inside the engine. Already this spare engine has come to my rescue by providing a replacement cylinder head for the one I cracked up when I was trying to remove it. I'm really keen to get the engine nicely renovated so that the car runs as it should.

In the meantime I will do some work on the brakes. My plan is to remove all the brake lines, blow them out with high pressure air, paint them and then re-install. I will do a little at a time so as not to completely dismantle the car . If i do it in small manageable sections then at the end of the exercise the brake lines will be completely renovated and ready to go. I will then move into the brake cylinders for each wheel and sort them out.

 With the brakes overhauled and the engine overhaul the car should be fit on the road and that should inspire me to sort out the multitude of other issues and get the car roadworthy and regular use.











I tried cleaning a little of the front suspension this morning using a electric drill and wire brush and found that it was not too difficult to clean it up and get it ready for painting. So this little experiment proves that it's not necessary to get the whole car torn down and sandblasted. Given the standard of renovation I'm under taking a good clean up with wire brush and sandpaper will be enough to get the running gear clean enough for new paint work. So after I have removed the engine I will have better access to the front section of the chassis and running gear and while the engine is out I will wire brush it and paint it so that the front section looks nice. While the engine is out i will also have a go at painting the bulkhead