Engine out - anything else while I'm there?

[Pozzy]

After six months of sitting under a cover on my drive, it's finally looking like I may be able to get moving again.

My engine lunched itself back in October and I was unwilling to take a loan out to get things sorted. However, times change, and I'm beginning to think that if I don't do it now (before kids, marriage etc.) when am I ever going to be able (read afford) to indulge my car demons again until I'm too old to enjoy it properly?

So, to cut a long post short, I am planning on getting a new 4.6 engine with stage 3 heads built and installed by V8D along with getting the gearbox and diff reconditioned elsewhere. Whilst all this stuff is going on, bearing in mind the budget is already at breaking point, is there anything else that people would recommend doing?

The only things that cross my mind are brake lines and fuel pipes. The car is an early 1994 vintage, so the chassis seems pretty sound. Before the engine shredded itself, the cooling system was fine so short of inspecting the pipes I'm not sure what else to do with that.

There has always been a leak into the passenger footwell which corroded the original fuseboard so I guess having a look at the bulkhead around that area might be sensible, but other than that I'm short of ideas.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,

Pete

[TimJM]

Even if your chassis is quite good I would still be tempted to rub down and treat it to some new paint (POR-15 perhaps) while the engine is out. You will have easy access to many of the chassis tubes that can corrode while the engine is out so it would be a good time to do some early remedial work. If the budget is stretched then I would expect you can do this yourself while V8D have the engine out. It won't cost you much.

[CHGRIFF]

Suggest you change fuel lines and engine bay heat shields. I would also change the clutch plate and release bearing. Easy when out.
Check chassis for corrosion or paint flaking and touch up where necessary.

[debaron]

Renew the heat shields in the engine bay! Unless yours are quite new then they'll probably be looking rough like mine were.

I'll be posting up a thread on how to do it in the next couple days so keep an eye out

[chris1972]

Pozzy said:

There has always been a leak into the passenger footwell which corroded the original fuseboard so I guess having a look at the bulkhead around that area might be sensible, but other than that I'm short of ideas.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,

Pete

It maybe worth checking the heater rails/ heater box/ matrix above the fuse box in the pax footwell for leaks. I started to put the 16mm heater rail hoses on mine this afternoon and ended up having to take the heater rails in the footwell out. A lot of the original rubber hoses are past their best, but tend not to get much attention inside under the dash.

[QBee]

Clutch is a total no-brainer. Several hundred quid when engine is in the car, 5 mins labour with engine out. My 73000 mile clutch became a bin-bound frisbee when my engine was changed, and that sparkling new engine deserves better. Say Hi to Rob for me.

Check fuel lines, heater pipes, water pipes, rad, check the quality of the main cable to the starter, paint the chassis, mostly mentioned, all easier with that lump of obstruction out of the way.

[Pozzy]

Yeah, I think it certainly makes to have a look at the chassis while it's a bit more straightforward to get to.

I should have mentioned that it's getting an AP clutch at the same time, so that's no problem.

I'll keep an eye out for the heatshield guide, that would be very helpful!

Thanks very much

[edo]

If the engine is out, am I right in saying jacking the car a few inches off the chassis is quite easy?

I'd be very tempted to get the chassis done myself.

[OleVix]

Engine mounts....

[A900ss]

edo said:

If the engine is out, am I right in saying jacking the car a few inches off the chassis is quite easy?

I'd be very tempted to get the chassis done myself.

Is this true? Interesting if it is (not that I plan on testing it out for a few years yet) as I'd be happy taking out gearbox and engine if needed but the thought of a body lift fills me with dread.