85 SE 2M6 Refresh (Page 2/4)
Dennis LaGrua MAY 20, 02:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by TiredGXP:

Well, It's time for an update

So far the cradle has been dropped and the engine is undergoing disassembly.

Here's a shot of the home-made lift. Built primarilly out of presssure treated 4x4's put together with mortice and tennon joints with some OSB triangles to help keep things square and a 2x6 added to the top beam for extra support. It's ugly, but lifted the car off the cradle without a groan.

Cheers



Looks like the first engine hoist that I made as a young guy. . It was composed of regular 2 x 4s and was bolted together with lag bolts, but I used additional angeled 2 x 4's in the corners and added extra angled supports to hold the center posts rigid. The posts were achored on a floor stand made of 2 x 4's
I used that thing to pull about 5 engines with a come-along and while it creaked when as the lift was made it did hold up in all cases. However, when I finally had the bucks I purchased an engine hoist. Lifting with wood can be done but IMO its never the best idea.

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87GT - with 3800SC Series III engine, 4T65eHD
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

TiredGXP MAY 20, 09:33 PM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:


Looks like the first engine hoist that I made as a young guy. . It was composed of regular 2 x 4s and was bolted together with lag bolts, but I used additional angeled 2 x 4's in the corners and added extra angled supports to hold the center posts rigid. The posts were achored on a floor stand made of 2 x 4's
I used that thing to pull about 5 engines with a come-along and while it creaked when as the lift was made it did hold up in all cases. However, when I finally had the bucks I purchased an engine hoist. Lifting with wood can be done but IMO its never the best idea.




No lag bolts were harmed in the making of this frame , all the timbers were assembled using mortice and tennon joinery, that way I didn't have to worry about bolts bending, breaking or tearing out under load.

I guess it's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but the corner gussets are hiding 4x4 braces morticed into the beam and support posts. The gussets are just there to add some stiffness, but the loads are carried by timbers. I probably should have made the triangulating braces a bit longer and shortened the centre span, so you're right, this is not the optimal solution, but it only has to work one more time before being recycled into posts for some new deck railings.

You can't see the bottom of the supporting posts in the picture, but there are two more braces on each side moticed into both the base plates and the support posts (also with gussets to improve rigidity).

Since there wern't any creaks, groans or other complaints during the first use, it should work one more time.

The other thread about the garage lifts has me researching 2 and 4 post lifts. Since my wife is talking about moving closer to town, I may just have to have the next garage built to accommodate a couple of lifts (we're a 4 car family at the moment, 5 if I start a Fiero project for myself in the next year or so).

Cheers
TiredGXP MAY 24, 10:59 PM
Time for a quick update.

Work's been nuts for the last week, and will be nuts for the next three weeks too, so there won't be too much progress for the next while.

Nothing's happened that really warrants extra pictures, just removed the bushings from the engine cradle and the rear control arms. Spent about two hours with a wire wheel on the drill removing rust, dirt and loose paint from the engine cradle.

Block and crank are still sitting in the garage, I figured I'd wait for the new pistons to arrive (back ordered until June 1) and have the machine shop install the pistons on the rods at the same time that the crank gets reground and the block gets bored.

I'm having a bit of a problem finding .020 over plasma rings on the web, anyone have a good source for 2.8 piston rings?

The latest Fierostore order shipped this week, so the new rear ball joints, tie rods and parking brake cables should be in next week, as should the POR-15. So hopefully I can get a few suspension parts painted and at least start reassembling things next weekend.

I thought I'd try the POR-20 high temperature paint on the exhaust manifolds, crossover pipe and the heat shields. Can anyone comment on the longevity of POR-20 compared to other coatings?

Cheers
TiredGXP JUN 07, 07:45 PM
While I'm waiting for parts to arrive, I figured it was time to start tackling some engine bay clean-up,

Since I also wanted to do a good clean-up on the frame rails and have some rear clip damage, I figured I'd pull the rear clip off first. So when the rear valence was removed, I find this:


Looks like the rear was smacked pretty good, based on the damage. Nothing on the valence though.

This vehicle is starting to reveal it's true character. I have the expected trunk rust. When I first removed the carpet, things looked pretty good, then I noticed the first paint blister. By the time I finished poking around with a screwdriver, I found this on the driver's side:


Figured I'd better pull the fan and check the passenger side. Good thing I did, It's in about the same shape.

After pulling out the wheel wells and splash guards, found some major frame rot on the passenger side:


Then there's the ever popular rust by the battery tray (top and bottom views):



Oh well, another reason to stop by Princess Auto and pick up a few tools (air powered metal sheers) and the local Metal Supermarket for some sheet steel to start the patching process.

But everything isn't doom and gloom. The cradle, control arms and knuckles have been cleaned up and painted. Here's a shot of one control arm with the knuckle just sitting on it (no dust boot on the new ball joint yet):


The result of cleaning up casting flash and other casting flaws on the upper intake (and a comparison to the original:



That's about it for now, time to get back to removing the rear clip and tackling the rust.

Cheers

[This message has been edited by TiredGXP (edited 06-07-2008).]

atleastitruns JUN 08, 01:18 AM

quote
Originally posted by TiredGXP:


Here's one of my helpers

Cheers



It's a Samoyed!

Aww, makes me miss my pups back home.

What's his name?
TiredGXP JUN 08, 08:15 AM
That's Pumbaa - yes, named after the Disney character. Just about the same temperament as the warthog. Everyone he meets (which has unfortunately included skunks on three separate occasions) is a new friend that must be played with. Eats like a pig too, so he's constantly on a diet in an attempt to keep his weight below 85lb.


Cheers
thismanyfieros JUN 08, 11:35 AM
duhh i just realized your in alberta... if you need any parts let me know i work in a local junkyard and we have 3 fieros...an 85gt red an 86 se gold and an 86 coupe black....both the all 3 were hit in the front...tim
TiredGXP JUN 08, 11:56 AM
Thanks, Tim.

I've got the bent piece off, looks salvageable, just need to use a BFH and dolly and it will straighten right out. Had the torch on it today in an attempt to anneal the metal I'll be banging on. Hopefully this will minimize cracks that will have to be welded up.

What I am looking for is a brake booster from a mid 90's S10 to do the $100 brake upgrade with. I'm going to be in Red Deer on the 16th, so if you have one, PM me with the directions/price and I'll pop by on my way back to Edmonton. And if you happen to have your ride there, I wouldn't mind checking it out

Cheers
thismanyfieros JUN 08, 03:51 PM
brake booster or the master cylinder...??? probably be able to get you both...we have a row of jimmys and S-10's i will hafta take a peek and ask the boss about pricing...then i will drop a pm with the info...i dont get off till after 6 pm and i am home by 630 pm...i hope you wont be pasing through till after that time...that way you can get a peek at my 3.8sc if you liked....tim
TiredGXP JUN 08, 04:40 PM
It's the booster I'm looking for, I already have the big bore master cylinder and various other parts required to do the Grand Am/Beretta brake upgrade, just want to reduce the pedal effort.

I'm down there for a meeting in the morning, probably be passing by Ponoka on my way back to Edmonton around 1:30 or 2:00. Darn, looks like I'll have to check our your ride another day (when you are in Edmonton at one of the g2g's).