apprenticing my first engine rebuild

[yellaopelgt]

Dean....pull the dizzy out. Its a PITA trying to manouver it up with it on. Hoist up the motor and trans to a certain point (you'll see) then ,with a 2x4,push the motor BACK(careful of the firewall)....get the whole assembly up over the front suspension(this is key). Next....jack up the back of the trans,while raising the front of the motor with the hoist(back and forth between the 2) You need to get everything up as high as it will allow while keeping evrything level.Bolt the engine cradle on,then the trans cross and you should be good!
HTH
Joe

[opeldean]

this was a great night. I did it all myself via Joe's method and all the other info from the good folks in this thread. Just needed an extra set of hands when i lifted the engine cradle up to tighten the motor mounts bolts
It worked best for me to
lift the engine up ,then go under the car and bolt on the cradle. levering with a broom handle with one arm and using the other arm to lever the jack worked just fine,as a one man operation.

it was a key point to keep leveling the jack on the tranny. All in all i spent 6-8 hours or so to get the engine in , I took my time and admired each step of the way.

This has been my biggest hurdle, as I was in unfamiliar territory and the weight and size of the engine-tranny was foreign to me.
thanks to all at Oplegt.com

[yellaopelgt]

Great job Dean!!
You are now a pro!!! It will go much smoother now if you ever have to do it again.
Joe

[opeldean]

I might be ready to start her tomorrow. I have fuel lines to run ,the fuel pump to install and few odds and ends. I want to drive tomorrow.

1- What oil to use and what to add to it

2- advice on building oil pressure

3- Fluid for getrag- Isn't it mobil 1 90 wt?

I have heard the way you start it , is to crank it with out plug wires, till you see oil pressure develop

thanks..I am going back to the garage for a late night of opel fun

[jeff denton]

I use the priming method that spins the oil pump with a drill motor, via a modified distributor.
If you want to do it by spinning the engine over, I'd rather you remove the spark plugs. This way there is much less compression acting against the rod bearings.

[MICAH1]

Originally Posted by opeldean I might be ready to start her tomorrow. I have fuel lines to run ,the fuel pump to install and few oddds and ends. I want to drive tomorrow. 1- What oil to use and what to add to it 2- advice on building oil pressure 3- Fluid for getrag- Insn"t it mobil 1 90 wt? I have heard the way you start it , is to crank it with out plug wires, till you see oil pressure develop thanks..I am going back to the garage for a late night of opel fun

Hey Dean,
Good luck on the re-ignition of Celeste........ Damn, this is like the moon landing!!!!!!!! The whole Opel World is watching!!!!

[opeldean]

It must have been adrenalin, as one thing led to another,and at 2:50 am Sunday, I was finished with the mechanicals. All the ancillary pieces fell back into place ,as most of those pieces I had replaced before.I hit the key and elect power was there.

Today will be about getting all my fluids in and double checking whatever needs to double checked.

I think its been almost 2 years since she has run.

I hope to post later today with the update, as soon as the auto supply opens.

I saw these 2 products in the OGTS catalogue, I guess its something I need to consider

[opeldean]

pulled the plugs, cranked the stater,primed the pump, bumped the starter,reprimed the pump, hit the starter for 30- sec to a min...,now I got 1 Bar of pressure.
Question: Does 1 bar of pressure sound about right with the starter? Its about all I ever had with my old engine.

Next is the gas.

I have mobil 1 75- 90 wt synthetic in the tranny, she took over a bottle

I got coolant in

advise

[namba209]

Dean, pull the oil filler cap on the rocker arm cover and see if the rockers have oil on them. If they do, you've got good oil pressure/flow and you can go ahead to the next step and start the engine. Keep a close eye on the oil pressure gauge and see if it goes up higher than cranking speed indications. It may, or probably will, go higher, then as the engine gets up to temp, it will drop a bit. Figure each bar is +14.7 psi, so #2 bar would be approximatly 30 psi. HTH.

[jeff denton]

At this point I ALWAYS check ignition timing prior to supplying fuel to the carb. Not doing this makes me laugh at one point in nearly every episode of American Hot Rod. They have spits and pops and flames shooting everywhere, and old Boyd right in the middle of it cranking the distributor this way and that. Totally unprofessional. My engines fire up and run instantly. It's simple.

[opeldean]

yes" the car wont start. I spark, I got gas. I got a backfire or two.No start

The side drafts block my view of the bearing in the flywheel, since I got a replaced flywheel , would that even count anyway?

Is there a way to time this, w/o relying on the marks?

[yellaopelgt]

Go back to the basic's Dean...me.... I'd give it a break for a day or 2.... (I'm impatient) Might just have put the dizzy in backwards??? swap the wires?
I'm sure its somthing simple.
Joe

[jeff denton]

What do you have for timing marks, Dean?

[opeldean]

I had to give it a break. ..for a few hours as this was starting not to be fun .. I called Gene...Gene said "switch your wires at the cap. Make 1 be 4,etc. I Could be off 180". he said . to pull valve cover and check for oil. I did that I am looking good. STILL no fire..now it wont even back fire.

Took a break,mowed the grass,etc.

Went back...looked again.. small coil wire was off!

Checked for TDC using a screwdriver in the spark plug hole, dizzy rotor lined up with mark..either I am TDC at 1 or 4, gave it a shot of starting fluid...she starts...I quickly shut her down due to metal sounds.
question: It has a metal to metal sound...like 2 pieces of sandpaper..normal?
this is my first breakin...do I let her just idle?
I have a solid cam

again thanks gene: I WAS off 180

PS: It is a beautiful night here,weather is awesome,fire extinguisher in case she coughs up starting fluid

[opeldean]

I am bummed. I think there is major problem. Engine has a metel to metal sound. its not a knock, just like 2 peices of raw metal rubbing together.I uploaded a movie file to my album, when its approved, listen to it and tell me what you think.

Oil pressure stayed at 1 bar at idle. did not go up when a reved it a bit.

its not lookin good.I am not restarting until I gather more data

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by opeldean I am bummed. I think there is major problem. Engine has a metal to metal sound. its not a knock, just like 2 pieces of raw metal rubbing together.I uploaded a movie file to my album, when its approved, listen to it and tell me what you think.

Oh goodie, a contest...

Um, clutch pressure plate rubbing on inside of Getrag bell housing?

[Tru-Craft]

Don't start it, and don't panic.
Pull the plugs and turn the engine by hand and crank with the starter, listen for sounds.
Could be non engine related, like kwilford said.
Too many things could cause that sound.
The video will help.
Lyle

[opeldean]

I just went out and cranked the engine over with the coil unplugged. She
turns over nice and smooth,no metal sounds can be heard.

I am using an opel clutch and flywheel

look forward to your advice, maybe all is not lost