[V8] Doctor, Doctor, its ALIVE!! Muhhahahaha!!

[Mike Arman]

Spent seven hours (on and off) last Saturday stripping the front of the V8 
to do the timing belt. It was well over 90 degrees, so I took frequent 
breaks - no choice. Got filthy.

Spent seven hours (on and off) on Sunday getting the three busted torx 
studs out of the block, and putting the front of the engine back together 
again. If anything, it was even hotter. Stopped at all the belts on, 
distributors in, crank pulley torqued, and radiator/front cross member laid 
in place (mounted by gravity - very reliable). Discovered it is much easier 
to get the ws washer reservoir in and out if the front bumper and radiator 
cross member are off. Got filthy again, but ever so slightly less so.

Monday, visited FLAPS for a gallon of anti-freeze and some small hoses - 
radiator overflow and washer hoses. Too hot to work outside, besides, had 
work to do - gotta earn a living, or so they tell me.

Tuesday, hotter, Wednesday even hotter - 101 degrees near Orlando, heat 
index 110 - I am NOT working on cars in this.

Today - went out side at 7:30 after it cooled off (a little), mounted 
radiator cross member, hoses, oil lines, all plumbing, added antifreeze, 
water (50/50), added one quart of oil, looked everything over one last 
time, took a deep breath and turned the key . . .

VAROOOOM!!!! It LIVES!!! Yeehaaa!

Smooth, quiet, strong - sounds just wonderful, like a V8 should. Big, big 
smile.

Tasks remaining:
Check tranny fluid level.
Install Eurolights and relays
Re-install front bumper and trim.

That should take care of Saturday.

NOW - got two items to address.

1) One "what's this hose?". About 3/8" OD rubber hose, comes up from the 
nether regions of the transmission, up to the right side of the firewall 
about to the height of the coil, has a metal 90 degree elbow, and about 4 
inches of rubber hose (about 3/8" OD) extending forward, ending in . . . 
nothing.

I can't find anything to connect it to, and the inside of the hose is dry 
and dusty/dirty, which seems to indicate it hasn't been connected to 
anything in a long time. Any ideas what this might be?

2) I need one of the flat plastic covers that goes over the plastic 
serpentine belt rollers and keeps crap (technical term) out of the roller's 
bearing - anyone have an extra?

And by the way, many, many thanks to Dave Head who was kind enough to lend 
me his V8 timing belt tools, without which this job would have been 
well-nigh impossible - you really DO need the tools to do this right.

Best Regards,

Mike Arman
90 V8, not just a car, an ADVENTURE!




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