Running!

First start in 10 years. The engine has been stored in a barn since year 2000. Cranked it first without spark plugs to build up oil pressure. Then plugged them in and tadaa!
Did a longer run later on with idle and higher RPM's. The engine works perfect even though it hasn't been in use for ten years.

Night working

Had a couple of days of to work with Peter's bus and didn't reach the goal to have it running friday night. It's all because a friend of mine and his car. We decided to fix his car as well and a "minor thing" ended up with 9 hours anger management. I tend to hate that brand from now on. And no, it is not a VW...

Anyway, I installed the new engine during sunday afternoon and the gearbox was leaning like crazy. Something was wrong, I couldn't at the moment figure out what the problem was but yesterday I got a struck of lightning. The old Volvo engine series B18/B20 and the predecessor B19/21/23/230 share the same bolt pattern except that the newer family is rotated 15 degrees. The adapter plate was of course made for both engine families! So, I dropped the engine once again last night, removed the gearbox bolts and rotated it anti-clockwise and tadaa - new holes for the bolts appeared!
Bolted it together again and new lift into in the compartment was an easy task. I do this procedure in less than 40 minutes on my own with the Volvo engine. With a VW engine it's even quicker.

One problem is the length of the Volvo block. It actually touches the rear beam as is and with the rear untouched the lift procedure is sort of a zig-zag movement. Up with the engine nose very high, lift the gearbox, down with the nose, bolt the gearbox, up with the engine again and bolt the engine support. I did a cut out in the rear beam, removed about 1½ centimeter and that made a uge difference when the engine was lifted. Still tight like crazy on the way up, but a lot better when it's in place. Now a belt change will be much much easier.

New oil and filter, new cam belt and tensioner, new gearbox oil and regreased CV joints. Now it's time for coolant pipes and all cables and then a start!
I'll go for a gear shaft service as the shift stick is super sloppy, and a new exhaust system to get the noise reduced is planned. I'll remake the rear cover as well with dampening plates and isolation added. Might have a look at the starter motor too, it's pretty tired.

More to come...

Engine flippin' time

Gaah! My idea with a picture publishing application was nice, but my mobile internet connection isn't working so the whole project failed. :(

At least I know it's working, so I'll make a new try when I switch the engine in the pickup. :)

We're on the way. The engine is out and before I left the garage yesterday I started to replace the parts that need to be replaced. Today I'll put a new cam belt on, hook the gearbox up and hopefully get the engine back in again. More pictures to come...

Workshop camera update 2010-10-21 11:23:01

My snapshot robot is running, image taken 2010-10-21 11:23:01 in the workshop when working with Peter's bus.

This is simply a test! I'm now going to the workshop to take care of Peter's bus. And I made a setup with a camera shooting pictures with an interval, a file poller that checks if there are new images and a mail server. If there are new images (ie if the camera app is running) there will be a new image every 30 minute.
Enjoy! :)

Let's rock'n'roll!

Wednesday evening Peter is passing by, leaving the bus in the garage. I have taken thursday and friday of from work so I'll do some crazy workshopping for sure. I went to the spare parts store today and bought a set of new gearbox oil and CV joint grease. When the crap is out anyway, lets make a real service!

Oh BTW, ordered a solid state replacement for the ignition, coming in a mailbox near me very soon...