Rescued a wounded Bird
Well, got more done today. First day in NC in a week that it hasn't been 100* Poured like a **** outside and I listened to tunes and the rain inside.
15mm gear wrench got the last torque converter bolt out, trans dropped like a leaf. Got all the wiring harness labeled and off the engine, pulled the PCM out and tucked the harness out of the way there in prep for the engine swap. Got the AIR system out of the way (except crossover pipe still in, loose behind the Alt/AC /PS bracket). TB off, fuel rail off. Looking for a happy hooker or a plate that will work as well. No prob if the intake has to come off...
Tomorrow pulling off the manifolds, releasing the PS pump and compressor and tensioner from the bracket. AC system has refrigerant in it, w00t! Getting close. Outfit in Elon, NC has a lot of nice LT1s for sale from $800.00 to $1250.00. Also have a contact in LKQ commercial accounts. I'm going the stock replace route because it's cheaper in the short term. I can drive it while I rebuild the one that comes out, and take care of other mechanical stuff that I could only find by driving it...
Anybody recognize this bolt? I accounted for everything the previous owner took loose (Opti, WP, AIR pump) before I got started tearing it down. I know it looks familiar from the last Opti swap on the green car, but I can't place it at the moment...
15mm gear wrench got the last torque converter bolt out, trans dropped like a leaf. Got all the wiring harness labeled and off the engine, pulled the PCM out and tucked the harness out of the way there in prep for the engine swap. Got the AIR system out of the way (except crossover pipe still in, loose behind the Alt/AC /PS bracket). TB off, fuel rail off. Looking for a happy hooker or a plate that will work as well. No prob if the intake has to come off...
Tomorrow pulling off the manifolds, releasing the PS pump and compressor and tensioner from the bracket. AC system has refrigerant in it, w00t! Getting close. Outfit in Elon, NC has a lot of nice LT1s for sale from $800.00 to $1250.00. Also have a contact in LKQ commercial accounts. I'm going the stock replace route because it's cheaper in the short term. I can drive it while I rebuild the one that comes out, and take care of other mechanical stuff that I could only find by driving it...
Anybody recognize this bolt? I accounted for everything the previous owner took loose (Opti, WP, AIR pump) before I got started tearing it down. I know it looks familiar from the last Opti swap on the green car, but I can't place it at the moment...
Somebody I know thats not really a car guy told me about that car. All they said was "hey I saw a car like yours for sale today in North Durham it was red and everything". I had no idea the thing was going for that cheap. Good find and have fun with it man.
Well I guess I am not the only one to find a good deal on a wounded bird. I just bought a 94T/A, Black, grey leather, A4, also has busted headgasket but the car is in good shape too. I paid $950 for mine with an extra set of fresh aluminum LT1 heads in the trunk and I thought that was a steal considering I paid $11k for my 95 T/A quite a few years back. I am pulling the heads today and going to try and get this bird back on the streets. later
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Verdad Gallardo Thanks for the responses-
Away for a few days at the beach- hate being away from the project already. This whole endeavor is by hand so far- no power tools or air.
Need to scrounge a hoist or buy one when I get back.
For now it'll be a drop-in stock motor from LKQ or B&T in Elon, with the dead spare to rebuild- probably AI 190cc top end package + 226/234 AI cam. Not sure how far I want to go with the bottom end. May end up a 383. A few minor little things to fix with the body in the meantime. Here's a pic of some of what's come off so far:
Stall is a 4842HS
Replacement motor mounts ready to go
deleting EGR, AIR
Away for a few days at the beach- hate being away from the project already. This whole endeavor is by hand so far- no power tools or air.
Need to scrounge a hoist or buy one when I get back.For now it'll be a drop-in stock motor from LKQ or B&T in Elon, with the dead spare to rebuild- probably AI 190cc top end package + 226/234 AI cam. Not sure how far I want to go with the bottom end. May end up a 383. A few minor little things to fix with the body in the meantime. Here's a pic of some of what's come off so far:
Stall is a 4842HS
Replacement motor mounts ready to go
deleting EGR, AIR
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Sounds like the deal I just did. 1994 Six speed TA GT for $800. Towed it home on July 21st. Not running because of a fried alternator and improperly hooked up battery, (loose connections). So far, new radiator, tires, fuel filter, alternator. Still trying to figure out the low speed miss/buck while cruising. Think its plugs and wires. Looks like stockers and 69000 original miles. Good find.
Rob
Rob
For the morbidly curious, I have more pics. 101* today and it felt every bit of it.
This engine must have run like **** for a little while, got waaaaay overheated and then blew both head gaskets. The lifter valley looked scorched. Rainbow color tar deposits on the floor of the valley. OMFG. Soup in #8, plenty of water has been in #6, water in #5 & #7... Puddles of fuel in the intake runners on both sides... wow.
101* today and it felt every bit of it.This engine must have run like **** for a little while, got waaaaay overheated and then blew both head gaskets. The lifter valley looked scorched. Rainbow color tar deposits on the floor of the valley. OMFG. Soup in #8, plenty of water has been in #6, water in #5 & #7... Puddles of fuel in the intake runners on both sides... wow.
#5 & #7:
You can see the water level lines across both pistons. Car's sitting with the front end elevated, marks go from lower left to upper right below the valve reliefs.
You can see the water level lines across both pistons. Car's sitting with the front end elevated, marks go from lower left to upper right below the valve reliefs.
Update: Back to work after 4 month layoff, found an engine...
4 bolt LT1 with 42k miles- WP & intake swapped from an F-Body after it was pulled from a wrecked car. Engine builder near Charlotte got hold of it and slapped a random pair of centerbolt covers on it (slight damage on original right cover from wreck) and stored it. Look like covers off an L98 Corvette. Good foundation for an AI 190cc + AI 230/236 cam project.
4 bolt LT1 with 42k miles- WP & intake swapped from an F-Body after it was pulled from a wrecked car. Engine builder near Charlotte got hold of it and slapped a random pair of centerbolt covers on it (slight damage on original right cover from wreck) and stored it. Look like covers off an L98 Corvette. Good foundation for an AI 190cc + AI 230/236 cam project.
Last edited by Gojira94; Jan 8, 2011 at 11:34 PM.
Old engine is still in it, just shortblock and pan. Going to go ahead and buy a hoist rather than try to rent one to get it out. No hurry before as I had nothing to replace it yet. No idea what the condition is on what's left. I may find the back 4 rods are bent, pistons are trash, and that the crank and journals ate themselves as the oil cooked. Never seen an engine burnt as hard as this one. Heads have never been milled so they may clean up- 374 castings. If the block and caps survived, that may be all I can hope for.
New engine will get a lot of prep work before going in, but looks like a winner!
New engine will get a lot of prep work before going in, but looks like a winner!
Finally making progress, car is 22 miles away, weather has been uncooperative. Using a small space heater, sitting on a futon with the engine in front of me. 20-something degrees Monday night. I pulled the intake off, brought it home. Also pulled the water pump, which has a crunchy shaft bearing. Glad I found that... opti is in spectacular condition. Only problem is one of the cap screws broke clean off flush with the housing. Need a really fookin tiny easy out.
Stripped down the intake, injectors look nice and clean. Got new o-rings for everything. Took apart the fuel rails 100% to replace the o-rings in there, too. Put a new top plate and gasket on the throttle body. Also deleted the water cavity on the IAC housing. Have billet blockoffs for the EGR.
Next, timing cover/ front seals, oil pan gasket, rear main, trans input shaft seal. Thinking about replacing the oil pump with a high pressure Melling select or if I can, weld the pickup and install a higher pressure relief spring. Anybody who knows chime in and stop me if the larger tube of the stock pump will defeat the purpose of the higher pressure spring (might need the smaller diameter tube to make that work?).
Flexplate is welded on one side only, looking for a decent replacement under $100.00, have a couple of leads.
Trying to have this thing running by week after next. We'll see...
Stripped down the intake, injectors look nice and clean. Got new o-rings for everything. Took apart the fuel rails 100% to replace the o-rings in there, too. Put a new top plate and gasket on the throttle body. Also deleted the water cavity on the IAC housing. Have billet blockoffs for the EGR.
Next, timing cover/ front seals, oil pan gasket, rear main, trans input shaft seal. Thinking about replacing the oil pump with a high pressure Melling select or if I can, weld the pickup and install a higher pressure relief spring. Anybody who knows chime in and stop me if the larger tube of the stock pump will defeat the purpose of the higher pressure spring (might need the smaller diameter tube to make that work?).
Flexplate is welded on one side only, looking for a decent replacement under $100.00, have a couple of leads.
Trying to have this thing running by week after next. We'll see...
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (14)
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 512
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Michigan
Glad to see some updates on this project. Me and a buddy are picking up a '93 Z auto with a seized motor in a couple of weeks. We will see what is up with this one...