Build Merl the Pearl Build
- Thread starter Ecliff5
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Ecliff5
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- #123
Installed the dissent bumper, need to cut the inner fender/core support to clear the 37s annd make it look cleaner, moved the ac dryer up but will probably need to rotate it or something. Then I decided to pull her in the garage and get ready for the engine swap next weekend.
Ecliff5
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- #124
Got started on the engine swap today. Took the hood off and got a good amount ticked off the list in about 3-4 hours. Got the battery and box out, all of the battery, alternator, starter and ground cables removed. Removed the starter and disconnected the trans harness and plugs on the o2s. Got the air box out, throttle cables removed, fuel lines removed, main harness and heater unbolted from firewall and got the radiator drained. I’ll keep at it after work this week and next weekend it gets swapped.
Ecliff5
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- #127
Got a bunch more knocked off the list. Front clip is off, radiator, ac condenser and compressor are out. The damn fan clutch nuts stripped on me again so I had to destroy the fan shroud to get the radiator out but luckily I have a spare shroud. Then I went to remove the 4 manifold nuts and 3 of them snapped off and the 4th stripped the stud on the manifold side so it’s just spinning. Glad I ordered new manifolds. All that’s left is remove the PS pump from the block, unbolt the hard trans lines on the driver side, pull the main harness through the firewall, cut off some heater hoses to the firewall and then it’s trans bolts, flywheel bolts and engine mounts. Making good progress.
Ecliff5
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- #128
@PFRELENG and @gxdave came through and helped me get the engine swapped into Merl yesterday. Everything went smooth. The flywheel to crank bolts got torqued, the flywheel to torque converter is torqued, bellhousing bolts torqued and engine mounts torqued. Now to put everything else back together and get her running by next weekend.
Ecliff5
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Ecliff5
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- Thread starter
- #134
Got the starter, exhaust manifolds and the main harness installed along with the glove box. Stole the two brackets on the head that hold the main harness, these are usually lost or forgotten when doing a head gasket. Merls engine is definitely all original and never opened other than spark plugs and wires so it’s nice to see all of the original routing of everything. New blue hub fan clutch should arrive tomorrow and she’ll be running by this weekend.
You are making quick work of the swap at home. I always find that doing stuff at home takes 5 times as long as in the shop.
But I got her buttoned up and running today. All things look great, no leaks and the valve tap I had before is gone and it sounds great. Merl now has a fresh 1fz with 12k miles on it. 