Yet another SPI knocking -- Will Fix It!

[LugNut]

Yep, I should be able to post pics now, and will do soon but am too busy working on the SPI.

Head from Texas (so far) is No Good

Looked good, but installing the last lifter proved impossible. The bore is out-of-round. Will contact the seller momentarily by e-mail. I assume he'll be sending me another. Will ask for $7.50 for a new cam seal too since the new one I just installed will be destroyed.

[LugNut]

Uploading pics still not working. I've posted a question to the help forum.

[LugNut]

Down with some sudden gut illness this early a.m., but doing a bit better now.

The cylinder head guy e-replied swiftly last night, but required a call today. Once he heard I wasn't a rookie (35+ years of working on engines, transmissions, etc.), he was quickly convinced that the problem was real. New head going out today.

A closer look this noonish shows the lifter bore is mushroomed-in ever so slightly about one-quarter the way down, and the metal is pock-marked on that same side. He said they don't reweld broken then rebore lifter bores. Ideas? Maybe a junkyard core that was whacked really hard from above?

[drunkyoda]

try going to photobucket. upload your pics there than copy the img code and paste it here. it will work for you.

[LugNut]

Thanks -- but creating yet another web site account isn't appealing. This site has the ability to post pics, why isn't it working? Qwality control lacking?

Just dropped off the badly-checked-by-the-machine-shop rebuilt head at UPS for return/exchange. Sad that a shop that only does heads didn't get it right the first time -- machine shops live or die by their reputation. We'll see how they do on the second.

[jmcrides03]

if you have a facebook account you can sign up for photobucket using that in about 10-15 sconds

[LugNut]

And now you want me to sign up for yet another site?

No time to waste on those "social nonworking" sites.

Got an answer on the pics tho -- there's another double-secret requirement. Must be a member for at least 30 days too. I've asked for an exception, lest, after the work is done, I never get around to posting these good pics!

Boxed up and shipped back the bad head this morning, and picked up oil and a filter at BigBoxMart. And not one, not two, not three, but four, yes four, boxes of parts arrived from RockAuto.

Then made some progress on removing stuff around the engine like the intake manifold (it's huge!), starter, exhaust manifold, and alternator.

Almost every dang electrical connector has a slightly different way of disconnecting, and age/dirt made some even more difficult.

The upper heater hose is crispy, so will need to order a new one. Also some other hoses while I'm at it. Now's the time to replace them; would be heck if the top of the engine were still in there. Definitely the right time to replace the shifter cables too.

[LugNut]

Well, didn't meet my goal of getting the engine block out today. Too many other chores around the abode.

But a small victory: after installing the two new lifters (Monroe brand), the trunk's restoration is finished! And here's a most excellent pic:

What, no pic? Oh yeah, I can't post any for a few more weeks. Grrrrr ...

Ordered some OEM Ford parts, including the new shifter cables. Looked over the parts now in hand, and all look good. That timing belt is sure a shorty!

But also took off more of the external components, including the water pump and that weird accessory mount for the power steering pump, alternator, and AC compressor. Left the compressor on its bottom, and wired the mount to the radiator's crossmember. The block is looking tiny and naked!

But ...

[LugNut]

Posted this (and others) in the general Technical forum, and it seems that us heavy-duty engine guys don't lurk there:

I'm rebuilding a 2001 SE Sedan with an SPI and a manual transmission. I have the head off, and the next step is to pull out the block.

I know dropping the engine and transaxle out the bottom is best (am reading the How-Tos, etc.), but if possible I want to leave the transmission in place.

I think with the oil and water pumps off the front of the engine I'll have five or six inches to work with.

How far does the engine need to come forward to come off the trans' input shaft? Anyone successfully remove the engine block from above, with a manual transmission left in place? And then successfully align the clutch going back together?

Thanks for your quick reply!

[LugNut]

New, new head arrived -- that was fast! Hope to check it out and to transfer over the parts tomorrow night or the next, and to get the old head on its way back due to the fine-print core charge.

Found a site that talked and showed pulling a 1.9L out of an Escort from above, with the manual transmission still in place. So I'll try it, probably this coming weekend, with both the shop heater and the quadraphonic sound system cranked way up.

Now that's my idea of a great time!