Last weekend, we got the engine and transmission re-installed into the "Dartster". Now, we're digging through crates and boxes looking for all the parts we cleaned and painted over the last two years. We also have a number of bags of bolts and nuts (some actually labeled well enough to know what they are for).

Here are a few pics showing what we are up to lately.

Finally free of its two-year bondage to the engine stand.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/967592/Engine_hanging_01.JPG" width=480 height=360>

Notice the tilter? We couldn't have done it without this handy tool.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/967592/Engine_hanging_02.JPG" width=480 height=360>

This is what we have been waiting for a long time.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/967592/Engine_in_01.JPG" width=480 height=360>

The colors are a little off, because of the lighting in the shop. But, you get the idea. It's all been painted like new.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/967592/Engine_in_02.JPG" width=480 height=360>

Someone please tell me if this is installed properly.
<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/967592/FlexPlate.JPG" width=480 height=360>

I'll add some more pics when available.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

You've got it in the right way, dish towards the front. See that little raised part of the flexplate in the center? If you tried flipping it over and bolting it up that way it wouldn't fit right.

Hey Jerry,

Schweeeet! What an awesome father-son project that is actually getting somewhere.

I do have a question. Has Aaron had a hard time staying motivated with it being such a huge project and taking awhile?

I know how teenagers can be. I also dream of doing a father-son car project with each of my 4 sons as they "come of age". I have enough project vehicles to do 2 or even 3 for each of them.

Rob

No, Rob, actually, he is the one always pressing me to keep going (not that he really needs to). He does get frustrated ocassionally, like when we go to the shop to get something done and find out that the piece we are about to install is missing its bolts and we have to kill time looking for them and clean them up. Or, like last week when we started to roll the car back to get it in position to install the engine, we found that the idler arm (the only part we did not replace on the suspension a year ago) was wobbly. It looked fine, and we never had a reason to suspect it. So, we dropped everything and ran to O'Reilly Auto Parts and picked up a new one, went back and changed it out, then put the engine in.

Honestly, if he wasn't as dedicated to this project as he is and did lose interest in it, I would have given up on it. It turned out to be a real challenge for a couple of rookies. I enjoy everything we are doing, but it would not be as pleasant, if I was doing it alone, or if I was doing it by myself just to turn the keys over to him. We're both getting more excited, because we can see it coming together, now. We see light at the end of the tunnel. The pay-off is close at hand.

There is one thing I would recommend to all who may want to do what we have done, a complete rebuild..... Take A LOT of pictures, make A LOT of sketches with notes, and label EVERYTHING well. We thought we did, but it wasn't nearly enough. Now it's slowing us down. You will begin to see me asking more questions and posting more pictures of things I need help identifying.

Bear with us and know that we appreciate all that you guys have done to help with this project.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Thanks Pierre, we looked carefully at that when we started putting it on and came to the same conclusion. Once again, this is one of those things we thought we could remember how to do two years ago. Would have been a simple thing to take a quick photo and file away for later.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Better he should figure that out now... More time is spent searching for tools, nuts and bolts, and that vital spring, clip or gizmo you dropped than any other single thing, in my experience! Sometimes I think wrenching is more a twisted game of hide-and-seek than anything else.

By the way, is that a FRAM oil filter I see screwed on the side of the engine??! NO!!! Dan help me out on this one!

D/W

_________________

If it ain't broke, fix it!

Fram is GOOD It is all paper inside...and wet paper is real strong.

Now cut that out!
I know, I know. I've read the threads regarding oil filters. I bought this one two years ago, when we first started this project as absolute rookies.
We just stuck it on there to plug the hole, seeing as how you can't return an item after two years. We'll go shopping for a different one later.

Thanks for the reminder,
Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

OK, Jerry, we'll let you off easy this time! I guess the fram will do to cover the hole if you're desperate and have nothing else... Next time, I'll sic Dan on you!!!

Looks great, by the way. Will you rent out Aaron to come help freshen up my fleet???

D/W

_________________

If it ain't broke, fix it!

If that's what it takes to get back into your good graces.
Seriously, though, I've got two great sons. My other one, Ryan, is 20 years old. They are both a joy to my wife and me.

They are smart, athletic, caring, polite, and best of all... they like cars.
By the way, you could probably go broke feeding Aaron. He is a typical growing 16-year old boy. Because of his high level of physical activities, especially this being track season, he is nothing but an eating machine. I come home from work and he is eating a snack, waiting on his mom to finish fixing supper.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Hey Jerry,
I can relate. I think I already shared about feeding our church youth group kids every weekend when we would work on our "GodsRods" projects. Up to 15 teenagers at a time!

When my boys are 18, 16, 14, and 12 I'm going to have to get a third job to be able to feed them and still be able to afford the projects we want to do!

I can't wait!

Rob

Heck, you think that's bad, I've got to feed all these Mopars!

D/W

_________________

If it ain't broke, fix it!

Rob, I feel for ya, man.
Tell me a little more about that "GodsRods" program. Is it something you came up with, or is it more than that? For a long time, I have wanted to do something to help the youth (mostly young men in the community) have something they can do to learn more about automobiles and auto maintenance. Too many, now days, don't even know how to properly air up a tire, much less change oil or grease the chassis.

In our small community, there are just a couple of guys driving older cars. I would like to see more of the high school boys take an interest in getting some of these older cars back into service.

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

Hey Jerry,
I could rant on for hours about "GodsRods"! It's my passion. As soon as I get a few minutes I'll start a separate post in Social Corner telling about what I've done (tried to do) with it. My move to Germany and deployment to Iraq cut our efforts a little short for now.
I don't want to change the topic of your Dartster post. So I'll start a different one. There may be others with similar programs or ideas. Maybe we could share some ideas on this type thing. Hopefully this evening (Iraq time) I'll be able to post more.
Thanks for the interest.

Rob

Hey Jerry,
I posted a thread in the Social Corner called "Mentoring the next Generation".

Rob