Went to drop the engine into the turbo Duster today. Last weekend pulled the pan to reweld the oil drain back fitting for the turbo for clearance issues. Fabbed the throttle and kickdown cable brackets for the intake and at the trans, along with a brake line heat shield. Made a shim/engine limiter bracket for the drivers side mount. This car is being done for a friend. This is his first ever real car build. He learns well. But it's still a learning curve for him. So today should've been cake to install the motor and trans. But nooo. Somehow the test fit of the oil pan was missed at the same time as the oil fitting debacle. My fault I should have eyed it myself. So here I'm trimming, welding and metal finishing the previously modified K frame. Also the left manifold is very close to the steering shaft. Ended up removing it during install for clearance. As it turned out it had to be removed, more later. Ok the engine is in lets install the trans. Fluid in the converter, and it slips in in seconds, great. We get it up and the relocated trans vent fitting is crushed by the floorpan. Locate a shorter fitting, but Jeff can't get it to start. By now we are 3 hrs into this deal. He goes to grab us lunch. I cant thread it in either in the 4" space between the tunnel and trans. I grab the 1/8 npt tap clean up the hole and install the fitting. Still to tight. Some air chesel with the blunt bit makes a little room in the tunnel. Attach a hose and we're good. Button up the trans cross memeber and mount. Now back to install the manifold. We knocked off the shaft coupler cover with the exhaust manifold during install. I just reinstalled it as he had knocked it off installing the column. Now I notice he also installed the guts of the coupler 90 degrees off so it has play at the shaft. Pull the column. He says the wheel is upside down. I teel him the shaft is of 180 degreesout of phase. Make sure the key groove for the steering wheel is up. Ok all back together and the wheel is still upside down. He forgotto rotate the shaft. Back apart again. Then to reinstall the dust cover. They suck. On to the shift linkage. It's been sent out to powder coat all assembled. Everything is stuck, adjuster bolt, slides, hair pin clip. Get that all takien care of and adjust the linkage. Next the converter bolts. I have marked the flex plate and the converter. It has extra holes for a symetrical bolt pattern. I explain which holes to use, they are marked 1 thru 4 along with the converter. I explain install one bolt, tighten it down and then back off one turn so there is play. Then install the other 3 bolts and we'll loctite and the tighten them. He tightens the last bolt. Now the engine wont turn. Bolt heads are hitting the block. Why? Because all the bolts are about 1/8" loose. They were not tightened and backed off as instructed. Tightening the last one pulls the converter up agaist the flex plate. This pulls the loose bolts forward hirring the block. A thin wrench allows bolt removal with some difficulty. I decide to chuck the bolts in the lathe and trim the heads .060" for additional clearance. 2nd times a charm. I can't imagine what guys (or girls) do without a good working knowledge of all automotive systems or problem solving do building hot rods. Not to mention tools. I take for granted that I have just about any tool, heated space and a hoist. Anyway tommorow we'll be back at continuing the assembly. Jeff will learn more and I'll be more patient.
Doug
Doug