The Hemi is in the Belvedere . . . YAY
First, I had to spend some time running around Charlotte to look at vehicles for my youngest daughter . . . her car has been acting up . . . long story, but I think we've got something for her at a reasonable price instead of the cost to fix her old car . . . Argh . . .
Then I got started with the install, dragged the engine out to the shop again, and my neighbor needed some help picking up his daughter's car that broke down - do you see a trend here ? ( sigh )
Then . . . finally . . . I could get started on the install . . . and try to figure out how to do this all by myself . . . First . . . I needed the nose of the car sticking out of the shop, and there is only a very short piece of concrete that I "needed" to keep the car on so it can go back in the shop . . . that was easy . . .
Next, was pretty easy to figure out - get the engine out to the shop and get the engine cradle removed - then it's ready to go in . . . simple enough . . .
Now it's time to get a little better look at my "red-neck" engineering, and the setup to help me get this in my car by myself . . . hummm . . . did I really do that ? ? ?
LMAO
Lift the engine up, make sure that it will clear the radiator support, and not hit the gutter on the shop . . . looking good
( this is where my neighbor needed my help ) - so I lowered the engine and helped him retrieve his daughter's car . . .
That done, it's back to the install . . . and the first time my car will have an engine in it since I've owned it . . .
Back the truck up, make sure I don't hit anything . . . ( notice how close it is in the bottom left corner - it's touching ) - but the engine is "not really" back far enough . . . oh great . . . as I lower it, it moves further back, so I've still got hope . . .
So I get it lowered into place, and . . . ( take a look at the front of the oil pan 4-5" over the K-member ) - this is where things got really interesting . . .
guess who got to wrestle with a HEMI for 2 hours . . .
And the final results of the wrestling match . . . I WON . . .
the engine is completely bolted into place - every bolt ! ! !
( sorry for the straps - that's how I lifted it - getting it set up and balanced is a pain, so I'm leaving it in place )
WOW . . . so that's what an engine looks like in this car . . .
SWEET ! ! ! Is all I can say . . .
Next - try to determine "how much" tunnel hump need to be cut away on the car . . . then on the 2013 Challenger Tunnel hump . . . and tack them in place . . .
Then GUESS WHAT - I get to pull it all out again ! ! !
Today . . . Progress ! ! ! Feels GOOD ! ! !