Hold(en) my beer - Monaro, Ute and Commodore content
Discussion
Tidied the garage / workshop and got the Monaro back inside ready to start pulling it apart tomorrow.
Couldn't help but film the chop chop, the idle is a treat in person, very throaty.
It stumbles on sharp throttle inputs, and there was still some idle failures so plenty more to tune, but otherwise it was very steady.
Oh, and the crank scraper and windage tray have turned up, who doesn't love billet parts...
Couldn't help but film the chop chop, the idle is a treat in person, very throaty.
It stumbles on sharp throttle inputs, and there was still some idle failures so plenty more to tune, but otherwise it was very steady.
Oh, and the crank scraper and windage tray have turned up, who doesn't love billet parts...
So made some unexpected progress today.
The airbag fault came straight back, but the US airbag reading software said steering wheel, passenger airbag and seat belt pretensionsers were fine, no fault codes.
Odd. Ah yes, wait, the Americans didn't get seat airbags. Checked the dummy loads across the two seat connectors... Passenger side has gone AWOL. That explains that then, resistors / capacitors on their way.
Also, I was under the car and couldn't help but notice a connector hanging down freely.
That'll be the wheel speed sensor for the passenger side front then. That'll probably be why the ABS was upset...
I imagine it'll take either a proper code clear or just some working miles to clear that, but that is if nothing else a step in the right direction!
What a t
t! 
The airbag fault came straight back, but the US airbag reading software said steering wheel, passenger airbag and seat belt pretensionsers were fine, no fault codes.
Odd. Ah yes, wait, the Americans didn't get seat airbags. Checked the dummy loads across the two seat connectors... Passenger side has gone AWOL. That explains that then, resistors / capacitors on their way.
Also, I was under the car and couldn't help but notice a connector hanging down freely.
That'll be the wheel speed sensor for the passenger side front then. That'll probably be why the ABS was upset...
I imagine it'll take either a proper code clear or just some working miles to clear that, but that is if nothing else a step in the right direction!
What a t
t! So we're going with a high volume pump regardless, this is what Tony Mamo uses on all his builds, especially with the lifters I have, so I'm following his advice.
Was advised by Luis (and Camaro tbf, and was half thinking this myself) to try just taking the oil cooler out of the circuit and seeing if that improved things.
So I looped the cooler line to bypass the cooler entirely. Got the car warmed up on the lift whilst logging (apologies neighbours) and watched what the oil pressure did with rpm.
It's an improvement, we broke 40psi for example at 4,000rpm, hot idle still 28-30 psi, but I think the cooler isn't the main culprit, perhaps contributing to a loss of a few psi of pressure though.
Was advised by Luis (and Camaro tbf, and was half thinking this myself) to try just taking the oil cooler out of the circuit and seeing if that improved things.
So I looped the cooler line to bypass the cooler entirely. Got the car warmed up on the lift whilst logging (apologies neighbours
) and watched what the oil pressure did with rpm.It's an improvement, we broke 40psi for example at 4,000rpm, hot idle still 28-30 psi, but I think the cooler isn't the main culprit, perhaps contributing to a loss of a few psi of pressure though.
Krikkit said:
Sounds fabulous at idle, what a lovely thing.
Good progress with the simple things like ABS sensors! Hopefully not too tricky.
Yeah it'll be very nice if that just clears the fault once it's driven a bit, my fingers are crossed!Good progress with the simple things like ABS sensors! Hopefully not too tricky.
I have a Tech 2 emulator type tool on its way anyway so I'll be able to read the codes, clear them properly and also initiate an ABS bleed procedure which I suspect may be part of my pedal feel issues.
The headers have taken on some colour with the heat!
Yesterday was mostly starting the stripping down process, so drain oil and coolant and pull bits off.
The magnetic sump plug had picked up a couple of actual metallic bits, as had the coolant drain plug
Sump:
Radiator:
I haven't taken the oil filter off yet but will cut that open to inspect.
Much more familiar state this
I wanted to try to remove the harmonic balancer as I expected the amazon tool wouldn't be up to the task. I was correct, as it just bent. I have given in and bought the ATI puller / installer tool, which is a rip off and naturally shipping from the US but the wallet pain will fade. Right?
Made a list of course, the items are more simplistic so I can cross more off
So although I have all the parts now, there's been no real progress!
The girlfriend's car sort of expired when she got to work, so long story short, this was my (and her) bank holiday weekend...
Thursday, take everything apart ready to remove the engine.
Friday, achieve maximum bogan points by driving back from Coventry with an engine / gearbox in the back of the Ute, and pull the old engine out
Saturday involved swapping the loom from old to 'new' (the new engine was an auto, so had a different loom), picking the best bits from the two where possible, and swapping over the flywheel, clutch and gearbox onto the new engine.
I also achieved peak status, I am definitely 'that neighbour'
Sunday was putting new engine back in and cobbling it all back together...
I didn't have any power steering fluid to refill it or possibly enough coolant on hand either, so sadly first startup attempt will be tonight, I didn't want to run the PS pump dry considering the T30 bolts holding it on were resolutely stuck in place so I don't want to break it.
Hopefully it'll drive out and normal service will be resumed once I manage to push the Monaro back up that damn lip into the garage.
The girlfriend's car sort of expired when she got to work, so long story short, this was my (and her) bank holiday weekend...
Thursday, take everything apart ready to remove the engine.
Friday, achieve maximum bogan points by driving back from Coventry with an engine / gearbox in the back of the Ute, and pull the old engine out
Saturday involved swapping the loom from old to 'new' (the new engine was an auto, so had a different loom), picking the best bits from the two where possible, and swapping over the flywheel, clutch and gearbox onto the new engine.
I also achieved peak
status, I am definitely 'that neighbour' Sunday was putting new engine back in and cobbling it all back together...
I didn't have any power steering fluid to refill it or possibly enough coolant on hand either, so sadly first startup attempt will be tonight, I didn't want to run the PS pump dry considering the T30 bolts holding it on were resolutely stuck in place so I don't want to break it.
Hopefully it'll drive out and normal service will be resumed once I manage to push the Monaro back up that damn lip into the garage.
After much bleeding of the coolant system and a top up and bleed of the power steering, it survived initial test drive and I've taken it in to work this morning (I have that AA cover to take advantage of ) and it worked fine.
It is actually running a bit too cool, so thermostat likely stuck open or not working properly either way, but much rather that way round than the other! Girlfriend is keen to take her old engine apart as a bit of a learning experience and to retrieve a piston shaped trophy from it so that'll be interesting to see what comes of it, although being outside it's naturally going to be full of rust and rainwater in one of the cylinders at least
) and it worked fine.It is actually running a bit too cool, so thermostat likely stuck open or not working properly either way, but much rather that way round than the other! Girlfriend is keen to take her old engine apart as a bit of a learning experience and to retrieve a piston shaped trophy from it so that'll be interesting to see what comes of it, although being outside it's naturally going to be full of rust and rainwater in one of the cylinders at least
a11y_m said:
LOL. My 'to do' list is more along the lines of repair garage door, paint window surrounds, refinish/oil dining room table, regrout shower, repoint patio...
Good effort on the BMW engine.
Haha, I have a lovely girlfriend, she knows that the house 'to do' list is an ethereal concept that exists forever just out of reach, like the fading memory of a dream as you awaken Good effort on the BMW engine.
Unless it's fun house stuff, like take all this crap to the tip in the back of the Ute
IainWhy said:
I struggle with American stuff as i have no affinity for it and i dont understand inches but i do love all of this journal.
Keep up the good work.
Also, improved racing do some nice bits oil and plumbing related i have their thermostat on an M£ and its genuinely excellent.
American stuff is generally nice and simple, so helpful for someone with fists of ham such as myself! Keep up the good work.
Also, improved racing do some nice bits oil and plumbing related i have their thermostat on an M£ and its genuinely excellent.
Very much enjoying your Vantage mods so keep up the good work right back to you
Polly Grigora said:
Too quiet in here
Any updates please
Yeah it has been, the engine swappery I think sapped a lot of my "car stuff" energy for a bit... That and the next step was removing the crank pulley / harmonic balancer / crank damper whatever one chooses to call it, and given the effort it took to get on, I've been quietly dreading it.Any updates please
I purchased the proper ATI removal / installation tool, and ultimately I'm glad I did.
19mm ratchet propped against a metal plate to stop the threaded rod from turning, and a 27mm (I'm sorry, but who has a 1 and 1/16" spanner to hand
) around the central nut which pulls the damper off.Initially I was able to use a good shove to turn it, but ultimately it would just mean suspension travel and ultimately all of my puny slightness wasn't enough.
As such, the 4lb hammer came out and I had to hammer the spanner to make any progress. Eventually though, and after about 10 pauses to consider giving up, it started to have noticeably moved.
Time between those 2 photos was an hour, and naturally I took the first photo at the first stage of "f
k me this is ridiculous" so it was certainly a battle... I may incredibly lightly hone the inside of the cylinder that goes onto the crank, as it isn't supposed to be quite that tight...That was enough abuse by then as my hands and wrists hurt from all the shoving and hammering (curse my computery day job) and really next step is lifting the car up and dropping the subframe.
Now that the worst hurdle is over, I'll likely have the motivation to chip away at it in the evenings now, girlfriend has offered to help in the evenings to help me get back on track
a11y_m said:
Good work. Not sure I have the patience for that, even if I had the skill in the first place. Frustration would've likely resulted in me setting a new hammer throwing world record
You're making me sound a lot more virtuous than I am, as I said I was basically going to give up about 10 times, and in true Hollywood fashion the last time I paused for a bit to contemplate stopping, the next hammer strike after that was the one that gave the first audible 'crack' sound of the pulley actually moving an appreciable amount, and it was all downhill (the good sort) from there!Polly Grigora said:
Back at it then, good update
Didn't even know there was rubber in-between the inner and outer of my cars crank pulley until attempting to knock it off and noticing the lack of a metallic sound when beating it
Good bit of kit there that was bought in to remove the pulley
Yeah I'm glad I got the ATI puller in the end, the cheapo Amazon attempt was just bending. The ATI one is a very fine thread so it is only trying to 'pull' a little per rotation, the nut that rides on the thread is very long (probably 40 - 50mm) so there's a lot of thread engagement and the centre face of the very thick circular puck that the nut engages with has a bearing in it so you're not fighting ludicrous friction against the puller itself as well.Didn't even know there was rubber in-between the inner and outer of my cars crank pulley until attempting to knock it off and noticing the lack of a metallic sound when beating it
Good bit of kit there that was bought in to remove the pulley
The pointed end of the thread was a bit narrow and looked like it would have possible wedged itself into the crank snout, so I popped a washer on the end and needless to say that took a proper hammering, I'll have to upload a picture of it.
Lincsls1 said:
Loving all the Monaro enthusiasm on this Forum recenty! Brilliant stuff.
It's nice to see isn't it? Some really good reader's threads going at the moment 
This topic, and the BMW 2002Tii (ish) plus other similar ones are stand-out topics
Anyone with plenty of spare dosh can throw it at a car and then throw more at techies to rebuild it for them
Those that post their own build from start to finish with so much attention to detail in explaining the procedures and frustrations are always going to attract plenty of interest
Didn't even know what a Monaro was until coming across this topic (sorry, but....)
Anyone with plenty of spare dosh can throw it at a car and then throw more at techies to rebuild it for them
Those that post their own build from start to finish with so much attention to detail in explaining the procedures and frustrations are always going to attract plenty of interest
Didn't even know what a Monaro was until coming across this topic (sorry, but....)
Polly Grigora said:
This topic, and the BMW 2002Tii (ish) plus other similar ones are stand-out topics
Anyone with plenty of spare dosh can throw it at a car and then throw more at techies to rebuild it for them
Those that post their own build from start to finish with so much attention to detail in explaining the procedures and frustrations are always going to attract plenty of interest
Didn't even know what a Monaro was until coming across this topic (sorry, but....)
Very kind of you, they've always been my favourite sort of thread, so am glad to be able to do my own now Anyone with plenty of spare dosh can throw it at a car and then throw more at techies to rebuild it for them
Those that post their own build from start to finish with so much attention to detail in explaining the procedures and frustrations are always going to attract plenty of interest
Didn't even know what a Monaro was until coming across this topic (sorry, but....)
So have made a bit more progress at last. Got the car up on the quickjacks and the bonnet off, then slung this support on to hang the engine from. Undid the anti-roll bar mounts so I didn't need to undo the oil cooler lines etc.
That's it having slightly lifted the engine off the mounts just to check it wasn't going to just collapse, covered the threads on leftover ARP moly lube, it's great stuff and just helps minimise friction on the threads when turning.
Slipped underneath for a nose about, spotted a pair of little purple drips on the gearbox. At least Royal Purple is easy to spot!
Looks like the drain plug is leaking, went to tighten it up annnnd yeah not even finger tight... That'll do it then. I'm sure I did that up properly (albeit gingerly as a friend cracked his T56 rear casing over tightening the drain plug...) so perhaps it's vibrated loose, I'll keep an eye on it.
Locked the steering (lesson learned...) and then disconnected the steering column from the rack.
Started taking out the 4 subframe bolts. Had no idea how heavy it was or where it would flop considering all the suspension etc is still connected, so I was initially very cautious...
Turns out I needn't have worried, it hangs itself from the rear at a decent height and the front weighs very little, so it's now resting like so:
Slung a couple more chains around it just in case one of them fails or something
Got the day off tomorrow so planning to make some more progress, get the sump off etc. and ideally get the engine buttoned back up so I can start putting things back together again.
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