Ducman82

^^^^ i am game. i had to take install the engine, find out had messed up the rear main install, and had to drop the clutch WHICH means taking off the headers again.... etc..... UGH.....

the thing i do like about the MSDS headers is you can move each tube a little on the tight spots.

ajricker

Motor is in resting on new motor mounts. what a battle. With new mounts as i lowered the engine they wanted to hang up om the oil pan. just enough that it wouldn't drop in. Finally had to crawl under with a small pry bar and pry them out just enough to get it started. Then she dropped in. Engine does sit a little higher now. Oh and I did manage to break the accelerator cable at the firewall. Gotta love thirty year old plastic. Time for a mental break. Still have to try and install the headers.

Ducman82

you will do just fine! do the driver side first. that way when the passenger side slides in.. you will have tears of joy

ajricker

Gettin there. Just got the bolts in for the engine mounts. I think I'll take the exhaust manifolds off the old motor and test fit and tweak the the headers a little to make them go on easier. Might need to open up the holes a little. They were pretty snug coming off. Just have to keep reminding myself I have lots of time.

ajricker

Just got the drivers side on. I had to lift the engine a bit to wrangle it in. When I got it on the studs and dropped the engine back into place this is what I found. The front pipe is sitting solid on the heat-shield. Does that look right?

Ducman82

trim that sucker. i found with the later mounts and shields, you need to trim, bend it a bit. nothing to major.

ajricker

No concern with the steering rack?

ajricker

How about if I just split it at the bend?

Ducman82

thats what it did. split the lip at the bend, and a little on each side of the that. 1" down? made little flaps. just bent them back.

no worries on that rack. None at all

ajricker

Ok I'll give it a try. do you have to do both sides that way?

Ducman82

i think so yes. its not much, but pretty easy to do

ajricker

Heat-shields trimmed, all nuts and washers on. Now just have to tighten drivers side. Not a job made for people with bigger hands. Would also help to be a contortionist. Some studs you can reach from below, some you have to get from above.

ajricker

Ok. While doing some more shaping on the heat-shield I found that one of the manifold gaskets had fallen out. What's the chances it will seal well without it? not really looking forward to taking it off again. even though the passenger side is easier.

Ducman82

prob zero chance. that happened to me a few times. BUT i also added the studs with the allen key so i just backed the studs out, and slipped it in! :-P

good work!

ajricker

Yeah, I decided it was worth the risk. Starting to out everything else back on. Just put the steering pump back on. Had to take the bracket back off to put it on. Seems like I've been doing a lot of that lately. Seems there's a sequence to everything.