Time for a update.
Well it's engine removal time. The car is up on the lift ready so it's all systems go.
My fitter friend turned up first thing to get cracking.
We started by removing the rear brakes. We don't want those expensive nice brakes hanging around with the risk of damage.
Once the brakes are removed we start by disconnecting pipes, leads and everything that is attached from the body to the engine.
Whilst he was busy disconnecting everything I marked up the chasssis where the anti roll bar hits the chassis. When everything's out of the way I will be cutting a recess in the chassis to make good clearance for the anti roll bar.
More on this another time.
By lunchtime everything was disconnected and it was time to start loosening and removing the engine mountings.
I have no idea if any of this will go back and work again.
We dropped the car right down on to some axle stands and removed all the mountings and subframe bolts.
Then simply lifted the car back up again using the lift leaving the whole lot in the floor. Engine, gearbox and subframe.
We put a couple of crappy wheels on to keep everything level.
So up we went. Alittle bit at a time. Pushing and adjusting the engine so it clears the car as it goes up.
Finally we were clear. Car up at full height and the whole lot still sitting on the floor.
The next job was to separate the subframe from the engine and gearbox. A couple of bolts and removing the driveshafts and it easily separated.
What amazed me is how heavy a mr2 turbo engine and gearbox is. I myself has never ever removed an engine from any car so this is a new experience for me.
The engine and gearbox weighs a tonne but I need to move it about so it fitted perfectly on a old sack barrow I had hanging around.
Now with the engine removed you can see how big the engine bay would be in a real murcielago.
It's massive. Plenty of room for that V12 thats in the real one.
The next day I set about cleaning up the engine and gearbox.
It's rather dirty with 20 years of old oil and grease around it.
I start by blocking up all the inlets of the engine. Don't really want to fill it with water.
I then completely soak the whole engine in a good degreaser and brush it in really well everywhere.
Once everything's soaked I wash it all down with the pressure washer.
That's better a squeaky clean engine.
Now all the old oil has gone i can start dismantling the engine. All the top parts of the engine are going off for alloy polishing and chrome plating.
Whilst this is being done I'm going to get a new clutch fitted. Best time to do it whilst the engine is out.
On Friday I have a top experienced welder work college coming over to cut and weld the chassis modification. So the anti roll bar can clear the chassis.
Loads to do with the underchassis reconditioning so more next week.