Matt Drayer's Journal

One more good shove and the clutch should clear...YES!!!

The engine separated from the transmission bell housing and swung freely on the crane's chain.

Holy moly, I did it, I pulled the engine! How cool is this

I pumped the crane a few more times to clear the body and then slowly wheeled the apparatus around to the engine stand. Three bolts later it was on the stand and now I could take a really good look and start prepping the block for paint.

No engine number plate...hmm, that's odd. I wonder why that is. There's supposed to be a number stamped on the block/head interface surface...but I can only make out a very faint "7U". Maybe the block has been planed?

Well, I guess I can clean the carbon off these pistons. They don't look too bad, actually, compared to what I've seen online. what are these numbers? "040"...I'll have to look into that. Also I thought the tops were supposed to be dished, but these are flat. Weird. I probably should have done a compression test before I took everything apart -- I guess it's too late for that now. But that coolant sat for a while on top of the pistons before draining into the block...so hopefully that means the rings are still good. I guess only time will tell.

Man this block is DIRTY -- it's absolutely covered in oil and grease. I didn't think I'd have to tear it all the way down, but maybe I should. Well, let's get that timing cover off. Wow, the bolts are just barely more than hand-tight...aren't they supposed to be tighter than this? Maybe that is why the fan sprayed oil all over the engine bay. Ugh, look at this gasket/RTV mess...who the heck did this? This timing chain is super loose -- add another item to the list. Maybe I should install one of those cool looking double chains, I'll have to check.

The crankshaft looks...really good? Shiny, even. It doesn't move at all when I try to shove it forward/backward. The thrust washers don't appear to be worn at all. "040" flat head pistons, nice looking crank, unworn thrust washers, planed block...this engine has already been rebuilt once? Number plate missing...possibly a replacement engine?

[Fast forward after multiple hours of scraping, cleaning, wirebrushing, torching, and taping]

Now THAT's a clean looking engine block! Just like the Uncle Tony's Garage video. Okay, time to paint the block. I think they were all painted black -- at least I can see this one was. But I'm going with red. Maroon, actually -- POR-15's "MG Maroon". It's the car's heart, after all...