Stalled

Not much is getting done. Noah was off at camp. My buddy Stu came by with a tool to saw the tail pipe, so it's gone. It's hot. I get under the car and my goggles fog in about 30 seconds.

The intake/exhaust manifold stubbornly clings to the engine. I'm not making progress with that. I'm also not sure about removing the gas tank. It's about time to call for help.

How to become a car bomber

Never knew where the expletive-like expression Nuts came from. I sort of thought it had to do with getting kicked in them. Now I'm thinking it has to do with removing the air intake/exhaust manifold from a 1985 VW Cabriolet. There are something like 10 bolts to be removed. Some require crescent wrenches, others allen. With generous help we removed 8 or 9. Obviously these 8 or 9 are completely unnecessary because the thing is held very securely by the other one or two. The problem is you have to find these rusted suckers entirely by feel. They are on the back of the engine and cannot be seen from top or underneath.

After working on that for a while, I started sawing the exhaust pipe in two. Got bored with the slow progress (think I need a better saw or a power tool). So I started on the gas tank.

I had already siphoned as much fuel as I could out of the tank. But I'm guessing there's still some gas and fumes in the tank and fuel lines. As I'm working on the tank, I've got 2 halogen lights whose heat output is exceeded only by the sun. I get so hot that my goggles keep fogging. In addition I've got a more portable incandescent light using an extension cord next to me. The first think I try is to remove the fuel line from it's lowest point. The idea is to let any remaining fuel drop into a bucket. But the chances that I will accomplish this neatly are slim. So I consider what will happen if the gas (or fumes) get near the light. That's when I see myself as an unintentional car bomber. I go to move the fire extinguisher closer to me and someone's moved it (not good). By this time I decide it's time to tackle this on another day when my resevoir of patience has been replenished.

Noah did lend a hand. I had him try to remove a couple of things but they are rusty and it's going to take more strength. I'm even having a difficult time.

I keep reminding myself that all of this was to be expected and this is fun.

Pressure is on

Sat morning I took a break from the engine removal. It seems to be coming along nicely, but what do I know. You can see the progress on the webcam http://maceyev.blogsite.org/img/main_fs.htm.

I'm at a point where care seems to be in order. Until now, I won't need what I'm removing. When I remove the engine the transmission will come out and I'll need that. So instead of working on the engine, Saturday I disconnected the exhaust from the chassis. It's still one long (10 ft) pipe. There appear to be sections, but I can't see how to disconnect them. It's above a major crossbar that I'd rather not fool with (less the entire car collapse on me). I may just take a hacksaw to the exhaust. Tonight I'm back to the engine.

I also got a message from my pals at Electo Automotive that lots of stuff has shipped (adaptor, motor mounts, weather stripping), but not the motor or controller. So the pressure is mounting.

Webcam hooked up

I hooked up an old webcam lying around. When you click on the link below, you may get a message that an OCX or ActiveX control needs to be installed. This is from Linksys/Cisco. Doubt it works with Apple. At the moment (8:15a EST June 6 - D-Day - thanks to those who served our country) the camera is on the roof facing the front of the car. The lighting is probably dim. There's a piece of wood across the hood (it for taking some measurements).

My main hope was to provide some entertainment but possibly use it so that people could see what I'm doing while they are helping me. If you have comments, let me know. If you think you'd check it out from time to time, but the current quality is too poor I might upgrade. Thanks.

http://maceyev.blogsite.org/img/main_fs.htm

Progress/Regress??

My buddy Stu came over. He's an expert because he has a lot of tools and when he was young he put together a kit car. He got right in and started disconnecting stuff. We disconnected cables including the clutch. I suppose that's progress. Although perhaps since I'm still taking apart the engine, it's only regression. Stu did not want to look at the shop manual. I will say that speeds things up. However, I have no idea about some of the stuff we disconnected. I'm trying to label things, but I've got a bad feeling the labels aren't going to make sense.

I think engine removal is near. We have to disconnect the axels and the exhaust.

Mile 6

Removed the condenser tonight. Feels good when big pieces come out. Also removed the throttle cable. It's attached to some air intake thing. It looks like that air thing has got to go. Will need the throttle cable and wonder where that will go.

Still can't remove the alternator. I can pivot it. But there's a hex or some nut/screw thing I can't get loose. Not sure if I have the right tool.

Many things I'm touching look important but I have no idea what they do. This would be a good time to have help from someone who knows what they are doing. May post picture and ask questions later. Noah was helping. That was nice.

This is like a marathon. I'm on mile six. It's enough to feel a bit tired, but I'm no where even close to being able to think about the finish. I'm not to the halfway point.