There IS progress. The 929 motor that was in there before was a MESS! You wouldn't really see the extent of the damage until we took the motor out completely (WHICH WAS A FULL 2-DAY MISSION!!!) I've learnt something out of these JE V6s... these things are solid built.. and were made in a hope to never be changed over!! (I can only imagine the DOHC swap!!!)
Day 1: We undone all the hosings, wiring loom, took out the shroud, radiator, fan and we managed to bypass the airconditioning unit (which is the R12 gas! Not happy, but anyway) by pushing it to the right for clearance. Because of all the "bolt-ons" under the hood, one day was just unscrewing all them!!! As well as dropping the tailshaft.
Day 2: dropped the exhaust, the crossmember was undone and the fuel lines and power steering pump disconnected. We then got the engine hoist and start lifting this thing out. To our disappointment... for a 3L V6... this is a snug fit bay! We had to pull the condensor out for the air con (which meant disconnecting the air con after-all!) With a bit of elbow grease (and determination!!), we managed to haul the motor and transmission out in one shot. VERY handy. So the stage we are up to now is changing over the good bits that are on the dead motor and fitting them to the new motor. (Which is missing the power steering pump, the alternator - which I'll need to buy now, also a new thermostat)
At present.. I found a thermostat for $55 shipped overnight, so I'll have it by the weekend.
Here's pics of it all...
^^^ Not what you'd like to see in your throttle body
^^^ Removed the shroud and fan... ready to get the radiator out.
^^^ Air con out the way.. but proved to be useless as the condensor was disconnected the next day!
^^^ Motor chained up and ready to roll...
^^^ All out... FINALLY!
^^^ The empty bay... which I can clean up a little while it's all out.
^^^ Rear of the motor just below the heads show the "white" areas where the leak was going...
...and further down we go! Poor donk!
And the blood-bath afterwards (courtesy of the transmission and everything else!)
More to come hopefully this weekend
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/have%20a%20nice%20day%20copy.png)