Project 'Keep the mrs happy'

[joff-turbo-nova]

Right, today's update....

Got on stripping the Meriva, here she is looking a little nervous



After an an hour or so we were getting somewhere :-



Just after lunch I had it to this stage ....






With a large boot full of bits !



Then things slowed down as I needed to sort fiddly jobs like removing the drive shafts and getting the exhaust removed, both had never been removed so were somewhat difficult.....






Noticed that the exhaust is shot from the joint under the cat to the joint at the back box (its all one piece), so that's on the list of parts. Also noted that the sump on the Mervia has a oil sensor in it, the one on the new engine doesn't , so that will need to be unsealed from the block and swapped over once the engine is out.

Engine bed is next on the list to remove, already disconnected the roll bar, bottom ball joints, steering rack and track rod ends.

Just need to disconnect the gear linkage and then remove 4 bolts and its just the engine mounts and the engine is out!

Joff

[joff-turbo-nova]

And I need to clean the new drive!

[Markd89]

haha #the wife.

Good progress joff, will give you a ring sometime next week about the flocking

[fearless]

Looking at this picture





From memory - the position of the cambelt tensioner looks wrong - the allen key lug is normally at about 20 past !!!

I might be completely wrong but worth checking !!


Dave

[joff-turbo-nova]

Looking at this picture


From memory - the position of the cambelt tensioner looks wrong - the allen key lug is normally at about 20 past !!!

I might be completely wrong but worth checking !!


Dave

Dave,

I lined the pointer up to the 2nd mark for a new belt and that's where I locked off the tensioner - I will be double checking the timing again along with the tension once the engine is ready to be installed.

Cheers for the heads up anyway!

Joff

[joff-turbo-nova]

Quick update....

This arrived this week ....




An almost new alternator, only been on a vehicle for about a month before it failed its MOT and was scrapped - not bad for £15 off ebay !

More work tomorrow weather permitting - should get the engine out and the necessary bits swapped over.

Joff

[mowgli]

joff, get some cardboard from the shop for under that car.....or you'll kill your driveway blocks

[joff-turbo-nova]

Cracked on this morning and got the engine bed removed (4 bolts and it was out !) - notice the cardboard I had in my shed for this job....




Then I got the engine crane out and got the engine mounts loosened off and dropped the engine out using my new engine leveller I got for my birthday ......






I then pulled the engine into the garage and started stripping the parts. The exhaust manifold came off without too many issues.

I was changing over the camshaft sensor when I noticed that the engine mounts were different .....

Astra -



Meriva -




What is really a pain is that the cambelt idler sits on top of the mount which is great - cambelt back off again swap over the mounts :grr:

Also checked the tension on the belt again - the tensioner is in almost the exact same place from the old engine....




And the new one......



More stripping and swapping tomorrow after the Japanese Grand Prix .

Joff

[joff-turbo-nova]

Busy day today not too many pictures ...

Got on with swapping the engine mount around - cambelt off mount off, new mount on, cambelt back on and engine timed up again!

Once that was sorted next job was to change the sump for the meriva one with the sensor in - so I had to turn the engine upside down, no mean feat with the head on - just used the crane to lower it down ....



Had to unseal the old sump , clean off the sealant, clean the new sump up and resealed. Once swapped over used the crane to lift it back up again.

Then got the the exhaust manifold properly bolted on along with the new thermostat ......



Also swapped the starter motor over, then the big pipes that go from the back of the water pump along the piccolo tube and lastly the inlet manifold....



I have taken out the injectors as I am having them cleaned at the local bosch fuel injection place, which is just round the corner from me which is handy !

More updates next week - my back needs a rest !

Joff

[joff-turbo-nova]

Some new CV's arrived today as the old ones were well past it ....



Also picked up the injectors today, all nice and clean - the fuel injection chap said the filter baskets had a fair bit of muck in them - so I think a new fuel filter needs to be on the cards too.



More updates over the weekend.

Joff