Picking up right where we left off last time.

Engine blew and started smoking a month ago, so I jacked it up on stands and left it as is for a bit. Was just about to finish the semester and had to deal with school stuff. As soon as that was over though. I jumped right into it.

So, what’s the plan?

Step 1: is taking the KA out and everything I won’t be needing anymore, I’m doing this myself for a couple of reasons: to save money, learn how to do it in case I need to do it again in the future, it seems fun, and to save money x2.

The key to building cars while staying somewhat financially affordable is to do as much labor yourself as you can. Taking your car to a shop for every little thing is how projects end up costing thousands while also taking years to be done.

Step 2: take the car to the shop…

Idk how to paint so this is where a shop comes into play haha, plus I’m doing more than just a bay repaint but more on that later.

Step 3: while the car is at the shop, dig into the SR to find what needs replacing other than what I already plan on doing. I’m hoping to do more of a refresh than a rebuild.

Step 4: drop new engine in and have a blast.

Sounds very simple, doesn’t it? I might have glossed over some of the details but we’ll get to it when we its time.

Back to step 1 then, I began with taking the front end apart, don’t wanna risk messing up any of the body parts, even though a few already need some fixing but that’s how life is.

Bumper, fenders, headlights, skirts all came off.

After that I started digging into the engine, taking things apart is fun because you don’t have to think much, was able to make decent progress in a day. Taking off the exhaust side completely, including the manifold. The radiator and intake, drained all the oil from engine and trans.

I don’t remember my engine oil being green… wonder what caused that.

Anyways, I started taking stuff apart somewhat randomly. Starting with everything in the front like the radiator and intake, then the headlights. Then the lines for the power steering with the reservoir, all while unplugging every connector I see.

In two days I pretty much got everything needed to be taken off done.

The AC compressor I took off the engine without disconnecting the lines.

Once the engine and transmission were completely unbolted and free of any wires, I borrowed an engine hoist, and got the engine out. Big ups to my homie for helping me out and filming a Timelapse of the process!

Whole thing went smoothly and we were done in just over an hour. So pretty stoked on that since its our first time.

The following days I got started on removing everything else left in the bay, I had a professional come and discharge the AC for me…

Then I took all the ac lines and the compressor off, also removed the engine harness that I won’t be needing anymore, and the front half of the chassis harness, which will be refreshed before going back in.

Lastly I sprayed the bay with a whole bottle of degreaser and got the power washer out, this was just a quick clean as the rest will be done by the body shop I’m taking the car to, just a quick wash to get an idea what we working with.

Before:

30 years of grim and dirt all up in that bay.

After:

Now that it’s clean I can tell what’s dirt and what’s rust, thankfully it ain’t that bad, battery tray is one of the first, if not the first thing to rust on these cars. So this was to be expected.

The chassis rails are pretty clean rust wise, still a bit gunked up on the passenger side but I’ll let the shop handle cleaning the last bit of caked up dirt mixed in with PS fluid.

All that’s left is the brake lines which I’ll let the shop take care of as well, as I’d rather have working brakes while I transport the car just in case, which means I am done for now. Just one last thing had to be done before placing the car back on the ground. And that is raising it to transport/shop height again lol.

I’m starting to get sick of lowering and raising this thing, but at least I’m starting to get quick at doing it I guess?

Once that was done I threw on the 17in Modal 5s front and back, I won’t be running these this upcoming season so they are now on roller duties.

Not going to lie, it kind of looks cool like this, something about a stripped down car, knowing it’s going to be put back together better than ever… gets me excited!

My plans for this thing are progressing well, and I’m so looking forward to having it back on the road. but it’s all up hill from here!

Thanks for reading