RedEvilWgn's Red GT Wagon...Engine Re-assembled 6/17/09!!!!!

[RedEvilWgn]

So I picked this up in trade for my 1966 Dodge Dart sedan that I had lost interest in. It will soon be the replacement for my 1991 Corolla daily driver.

I pulled the engine because there were a few oil leaks, and the previous owner said his mechanic told him one of the heads were cracked.

Well the head isnt cracked, the headgaskets were just blown to all holy hell (big surprise) so here's some pics of the progress thus far....she isn't perfect but I LOVE IT!

my first couple posts with pics...

finally picked it up today, I traded my 1966 dart for it.

Unfortunately, it has a overheating issue (like alot of the subies ive worked on do lol) so I had it towed to the dealership....

PICS!!!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00142-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00143-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00144-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00145-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00146-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00147-1.jpg

I'm pulling the engine this week and sending the heads out to see what I'm up against. The previous owner's "mechanic" told him that one of the heads had to be cracked to cause the frequent overheating. I think it may just be headgaskets, and hey why not reseal the engine and slap on a new timing belt right?

the engine is torn down, the heads and block.....ARE NOT WARPED!!!!

therefore the car will be getting new headgaskets, as well as some other maintenance goodies and being put back together.

pics of the progress from last night to minutes ago.....and yes I cleaned and prepped the heads and block myself, no i did not send them out to a machine shop because it isnt necessary.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00148-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00149-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00151-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00152-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00153-1.jpg


and finally today the engine was re-assembled!!!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/06/IMG00155-1.jpg

here's what ive done/replaced...all OEM
water pump
resealed oil pump
headgaskets
cam seals
oil pressure sensor
knock sensor
t-stat
front oil pump seal
used motor mount of another 2.5 (i snapped the rusty ass one taking it out lol)
new left inner timing cover
valve cover, intake mani, and exhaust mani gaskets.
new oil pan
new tranny pan.

there's more but i probably forgot most of it.

the only other issue is that the exhaust is a hacked together mess, and I'm unsure how I'm going to remedy that at this point.

[dodik]

hopefully you clean it up before it go is in,

[RedEvilWgn]

nah there's no need. its going to be a very lightly modded daily driver, and winter will just dirty it all up again.

when I put it all together in the car ill spray the engine bay down.

[Huffer]

the only other issue is that the exhaust is a hacked together mess, and I'm unsure how I'm going to remedy that at this point.

Easy fix at a good exhaust shop. Put a nice WRX axle back on it too to get you some velocity. Might as well grab a cheap set of headers from ebay or speedyracer.com too. :D

[RedEvilWgn]

yeah there are a couple locally, I'm looking into it still.

as for the WRX axleback, do you mean stock? and will it bolt right in per se?

edit**

AS OF 3:30PM EST, THE ENGINE IS BOLTED IN!! :smt026 :smt026 :smt007 :smt023

[Okin DaVanh]

as for the WRX axleback, do you mean stock? and will it bolt right in per se?


You'll have to change over your hangers or add new ones to hook up to the factory Legacy locations.

[RedEvilWgn]

IT RUNS!!! IT RUNS LIKE A FRIGGIN TOP!!!!

however.....the colant temp gauge doesnt work, but the scantool is getting signal from the sensor, and the gauges dont light up and there's no blown fuses or blown bulbs....

ugh im so close to being ready to drive it.... :smt021 :smt021 :smt021



I love my wagon. :smt026 :smt007

[RedEvilWgn]

bumpitty bumpage!

ok, so I removed the aftermarket alarm, and will be trying to setup the factory keyless this week.

I ordered my JDM fogs yesterday, and thanks to alex I have a better passenger front fender and a jdm bumper (the bumper might not get used).

all i need is a hood and money for paint!

[RedEvilWgn]

Bump.

Updates:

I love driving this car. I got bored at work and put a SPT oil cap on it.
I have a newly repainted red fender to put on the passenger front.
My fiancee and I De-Pinstriped the car, now it looks 1000000% better.
I got a set of kenwood rear 6.5s speakers finally so I have SOUND!! ROOOOOOOOOOAR!


The bad news:
Still have the rust to deal with :(
She burns oil. most likely a piston ring issue, but she still runs fine soooooo imma keep driving it.
Also, Sunny brand tires SUCK. THEY ARE CHINESE MADE GARBAGE. I can almost get my car sideways ON DRY PAVEMENT taking ramps too fast on these tires. UGH.

oh BTW, I'm looking for a set of STI springs, if anyone has some for cheap....THANKS.

[anothernord]

Nice rebuild! Its cool to do stuff yourself; it makes you really appreciate things a lot more. Congrats!!

[d1giPhux]

Lookin good man! You needa pick up a new hood and get it sprayed.. then throw it on with your new fender! I got one sourced for ya if your ever up for a road trip or something! Slowly its coming together!!

[RedEvilWgn]

started working on the rot issues.....ugh what have i gotten myself into?!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/09/IMG00289-1.jpg

[d1giPhux]

the repair begins! well now you can use those welding skills of yours.. and maybe show me. HAHA :P