New life for an old pig...

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Still tracking down parts...I just got qouted $171.00 for a 2F head gasket from my local dealership and of course when I asked for a discount they said 'nope'. WTF!

I can get an aftermarket one to my door for about $30 but I know folks typically say to stick with OEM. Is Toyota's gasket made of frickin' gold? Or what?
 
No, the toyota headgasket for 81-later 2F is made of graphite w/ copper seal rings and other goodies. I have not yet found an aftermarket headgasket that comes close to looking like the latest OEM gasket.
 
A little more progress, hope you don't mind pics.

I have been disassembling the original seized engine in order to use the original bellhousing. I have had a difficult time removing it because the crankshaft is siezed and I was not able to remove all the bolts that hold on the clutch or even reach the bolts that hold on the bellhousing. I finally pryed the oil pan off. So after deciding to tear open the bottom of the engine I ran into a few stubborn bolts. I'm not sure what size the giant nut is on the end of the crank/pulley, but I haven't been able to remove it. I was also not able to get a socket onto the last couple of bolts holding the crankshaft in place so I decided to tear into the top end. I then removed the head and valvetrain. Next I rolled the block over and most of the weight was resting on the flywheel which freed up the crank. Then I was able to rotate the crank and get to all the bolts on the clutch and flywheel. All this led to finally being able to remove the DAMN bellhousing. Yeeesh!

Wow, sorry for the long winded explanation. Here are some pics...
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More pics of the disassembly...

First pic is of the pistons and the crud I found. Noticed these pistons are domed while the ones in the '81 engine are flat. Removed the pistons and bearings and stuff. Pic of the stripped block also.
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Original engine is mostly torn apart, still need to remove those stubborn bolts in order to remove the crank and cam shafts. All this just to reuse my original bellhousing. Finally feel like I can start on assembly. Began to clean up the donor block and prep it for reassembly.
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Got these repro lenses in the mail recently from FoxFab and installed them on the pig. Also received a valve grind/head gasket kit from CDAN and am still cleaning up the engine block and other parts. Updates soon... :)
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Thanks! I recently stumbled upon your build-up thread, great job! It has given me some ideas...


cool.... glad I could help... thinking about doing a 55 after this.... so I have been hanging out in your 55 section some.... still got a way to go on this 40 but only time will tell
 
Nice job on the work you are doing. Enjoying the pictures. I'm just to the north of you in Richland, WA.

Good Luck!
 
Nice job on the work you are doing. Enjoying the pictures. I'm just to the north of you in Richland, WA.

Good Luck!

Thanks. I noticed your recent work on your pig you posted. Nice job, keep it up.
 
Update:

Got the call from NAPA and picked up my head and other parts. Also spoke with Jim C. and he has finished my carb and stuff and put it all in the mail. Hee, Hee, Hee. :)

I was able to work on the engine today for a few hours. I finally removed the new pilot bearing that we f'ed up during install. I first tried the hydrallic/grease method because it worked so well removing the original one but this time it blasted the outer face of the bearing out and made a mess. I then tried a small bearing puller and a slide hammer and neither worked. I started to get frustrated so I grabbed a cold chisel and a small sledge and proceeded to go to town on it. I quickly removed the inner race and the ball bearings but that still left the outer race. I then used my new Dremel and about 5-6 'heavy duty' cut off wheels to weaken the outer race that was still very stuck. This took awhile and just as I was getting really annoyed I grabbed the small bearing puller again and tried it on the leftover outer race. It actually worked this time and I finally removed that SOB.

I cleaned up the mess and installed my second, new pilot bearing. Then I cleaned up the bellhousing a bit, wirebrushed all the bolts and washers, and used compress air to blow any crud out of the bolt holes. I used some threadlock and slapped the bellhousing on. Was about to finish installing the clutch and then realized I couldn't fit the flwheel or clutch parts under the bellhousing while the engine was sitting on the garage floor. So it looks like I better install the head next.

Um, and no pics. I'm having problems uploading pictures from my camera. I'll keep working on it.
 
I was able to upload some of the pics from my camera to the computer-but not all of them.

Pic of both valve covers cleaned up a bit. I think I may clear coat the VC and the intake manifold. Both have been cleaned up and look great. I may try to keep them looking good a little longer.

Christmas in April! The guys at NAPA even wrapped my head for me. I can't wait to unwrap it and install it.

I also got a chance to go explorin' last weekend. This spot is 30 minutes east of town.

Carlos
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Got in some more work today on the engine. I was able to finish cleaning the block surface, head bolts/threads, and bolt openings. I unwrapped the head and installed it along with the OEM gasket and carefully torqued it down. I installed some of the accessory brackets and then began working on the coolant system. Replaced the coolant hoses and clamps as well as replaced the gaskets for the waterpump/thermostat housing. Replaced the thermosatat. Installed gas lines and waterpump.

Need to decide if I am going to use the oil cooler. The newer water pump has a hose that connects to the oil cooler but the old water pump does not. So I have to decide which set up to go with...

Sorry, still having problems with the damn camera.
 
Great details! Keep the info coming. I'd like to try my hand at this sometime in the not too distant future. Any thing you can think of how you went through the building process would be nice. Best of luck!! ty
 
Well, I decided to go with the orig. water pump and oil filter housing from the '77 engine because it seems to all fit and work well with each other. This will eliminate the oil cooler but I should have enough room for the fan and it should not hit the radiator. This was my concern with using the newer setup from the '81 engine. It would have apparently been too long.

So, I have installed a couple more accessories onto the donor engine and am figuring it all out. I may have to measure and buy some custom/fitting belts for the engine. I have replaced all the coolant hoses with new ones and new hose clamps. I have received all my parts back from NAPA and also my carb and dist. from Jim C. The carb looks great and I can't wait to start this engine!

Of course, now that I have all the parts I am not able to work on the rig. I'm taking off for Hawaii foe a few days. Yep, I know- BOO HOO! :( I still am not able to post pics, so hopefull soon.
 
Howdy everyone, back from vacation. I was finally able to download some pics so here are a few...

First pic: Head after install.
Second pic: Another head pic.
Third pic: Pic of the new thermostat, fuel lines, etc.

I was able to clean and install the pushrods and valvetrain last night. More updates and pics soon.
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