And So It Begins… Again

Shortly after I got Pandora home from my Uncle’s, I discovered the cooling system was not quite up to the summers here. A local radiator shop built me one using the 4-row core out of a Cadillac and my tanks. That was the end of the overheating. I was able to remove the radiator last week and have it cleaned and successfully pressure tested, so it looks like I can continue using it. Assuming it can still keep up with the new 383, I don’t expect to change it. Though it will get electric fans…

In addition to having the radiator check out, I’ve been able to get the engine mostly prepped for removal over the past week. Electrical and exhaust disconnected, the rest of the fluids drained, hood removed, etc. I had a few consecutive hours available on Saturday and managed to hit my first real milestone – engine removal!

It always seems like such a big deal in my head to pull an engine, but when it actually happens, it is so easy. A few wires, a handful of bolts and it mostly slides right out. I spent way too long getting the passenger side rusty motor mount separated, and checking clearances as I raised things every couple of inches took time, but it went quickly. The whole time expecting my hoist to top out before I could get the transmission to clear the front end, but it cleared with room to spare. I spent far more time hammering and cutting out the old, rusty exhaust system.

Of course, I completely forgot that torque converters have approximately nine trillion gallons of fluid in them, so the clean up project took longest, continuing into Sunday morning.

Now the shop and the car get cleaned up. Decades of road grime and fluid leaks and remains of the critters that lived in the engine bay need to be washed away. I’m gonna need a shower tonight!