my DIY engine rebuild

[78F350]

Best thread ever.

I am seriously considering ditching A/C all together. That is some heavy crap right there, and mine doesn't blow cold anyway (probably vented to the atmosphere by a previous "mechanic").

I bought one of these by accident and I can confirm that it fits a 2.5 perfectly as an A/C-delete belt. I expect it's the same on a 3.2.
Amazon.com: Bando 6PK1930 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt: Automotive

[flaps10]

Originally Posted by 78F350

Best thread ever.



I bought one of these by accident and I can confirm that it fits a 2.5 perfectly as an A/C-delete belt. I expect it's the same on a 3.2.
Amazon.com: Bando 6PK1930 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt: Automotive

F350,

Well aren't you the steely eyed missile man. Since my a/c is bolted up I'm going to save that tidbit about the proper belt to run an a/c delete and work it into "chapter 2, how I built a motor correctly for once"

I had various family events that took priority over working on my car yesterday, but today I was back at it.

I got the engine raised to where the four studs/nuts that hold the front motor mount yoke to the body could be threaded in and torqued. It almost went too smoothly to trust it, but there it was.

I followed that with reconnecting all the coolant lines from below, the P/S pressure line connection and most of the connections on the left side of the car. I still need to hook up the fuel line, install the clamp on the P/S return line and install the metal clip which helps some of the above mentioned hoses behave during maneuvering.

Up top I got the SAI air hose hooked up, engine compartment fan connector, the pressure side fuel connector, the oil filler tube and something else that escapes me at the moment.

Too late, I realized that my starter ground cable (the one that people occasionally find disconnected and start threads about) was routed incorrectly. It needs to slip between two tubes of the intake manifold if it has any hope of attaching at the front edge of the SAI bracket.

I don't know that there is a correct wrench that will get that starter bolt off. In the end it was tiny movements with a box wrench and finger dexterity that got that starter bolt off and the cable rerouted. To get it back on I had to devise a way for me to lay on top of the trunk face down over the engine. Mission accomplished. I also had to temporarily remove the AOS flex hose and the oil filler tube.

Also on top I got the PS reservoir installed and clipped into place, the battery junction box installed and the positive cable bolted up.

Basically I hooked up every damn thing I found sticking out. By the time I was worn out for the afternoon I had a few places that I was thinking "I know there was something here I had to do", so I broke out my old checklists and the manuals

Sure enough I missed:
The single wire connector for the a/c compressor
The C shaped clip on the vacuum booster hose
SAI connector plug

I also made notes to check that I properly installed the AOS flex hose (I know I got the filler tube back on correctly).

I've got a fresh set of check lists to complete all tasks and I'm down to 32 steps including filling and bleeding fluids.

It will actually be sort of weird to sit in this car let alone turn the key.

[flaps10]

I had a good day yesterday and this was the result



I intend to drive this car by the end of the day

[flaps10]

Well it ran. This is the car on all fours for the first time in months. I pushed it out of the garage to fill it with fluid and install a brand new group 48 battery.



No ugly mechanical sounds, knocking, tapping,etc. But it is not running on all six cylinders. It seems like an induction leak or crossed plug wires (not really possible on this engine)

No codes. I was really beat when I even pushed it outside and didn't have the energy to keep it up. I'll give it another look tomorrow after work.