engine swap/rebuild

[blackp5]

Seems like a ton of people have spun rod bearings on the Proteges. I think there is something wrong with the design on the motor.

My swap has been going on since March. I've been really lazy and lagging doing it. I would have taken it to a shop to have it done but I would rather save the labor money and spend it on something else for the car like the rebuild when it happens. It would have cost me about $3000 for the labor and motor if I brought it to the shop, so far I have only spent $1100 for the engine and some tools and gaskets. It's been a great learning experience so far though.

 

[GNO]

I finally got the motor out! practically had to take off every motor/tranny mount to do it but I did. It's gonna be a pain putting in the motor. Had to take the motor out with the axle still on it. I think I'm going to have to rebuild the axle because it's all twisted.

I had a hell of a time separating this as well. Just for future reference, I used a u-shaped attachment on a slide hammer and placed it where I drew the arrows. After a couple of hits, it came off.

My boot got pretty messed up as well. I had a hell of a time trying to find a replacement boot for a decent price. The stealership didn't carry them either. I ended up going to a shop called Axel, Clutch, and Gear (ACG) that was only a mile away from home and I drive by it almost everyday on my way to/from work. I walked in there and they took it off my hands and said it'd be $25 and to give them a day. The next day I picked it up.

 

[blackp5]

I just dropped that piece off at a local mechanic shop call Rick's Rotary. He told me it would be about $45 to replace the boot.

 

[blackp5]

Picked up my axle today. Rick didn't charge me for fixing the boot since he didn't have to replace anything. Great shop if anyone is in the Bay Area.

I think I need to bring it to the dealership tech and have him replace the seal or whatever it is on the immediate shaft though.

 

[blackp5]

Motor is in! Time to put back the little things and get her running.

 

[blackp5]

I need some help. When I install back the driveshafts, how should I do it? Just try to shove it in there? Any tips on this? Also, do I need to replace the clips on the ends of the driveshaft where it goes into the transmission?

 

[gimpo2]

the one on the passenger side should just slide in. i think for the drivers side i put the axle in the tranny and in the wheel hub and aligned it all and then whacked it in with a sledge hammer. i didn't replace the clips, seemed to hold fine

 

[blackp5]

Alright cool... I'll have to give that a try the next time I work on it.

Thanks

 

[GNO]

I need some help. When I install back the driveshafts, how should I do it? Just try to shove it in there? Any tips on this? Also, do I need to replace the clips on the ends of the driveshaft where it goes into the transmission?

IIRC you're supposed to check the gap on the clips and if they're out of spec, use new clips. Those clips are what makes it so hard to pull the axles out. They also keep the axle in when you want it to stay in. Other than a CV breaking, I don't see those things wandering out on their own. However, if they do wander out, I can see how it would place more stress on the CV.

 

[blackp5]

need help

Does anyone know where that plug connects to? I can't remember where it plugs to. Is it on the main harness or is it coming off somewhere else?

Also, to take off the tie-rod, I would turn counter-clockwise right?

 

[blackp5]

bump!

 

[blackp5]

Is there any pre-cautions I should take before starting up the motor for the first time?

 

[Kansei]

make sure there's oil in it

So it's all back together?

 

[blackp5]

Yup! Finally. All that needs to be done is make sure all the bolts and screws are tighten and add fluids.

 

[turbo fs-2.0]

Exellent!!!! thead guys!! should be a sticky one!! I'm next with my swap/re-build!

 

[GNO]

Disconnect the harness for the fuel injectors and coils and use the starter to turn the engine for a few seconds. By doing so, you can circulate some oil prior to actually firing up the motor. Reconnect the fuel and ignition connectors and fire her up.

 

[blackp5]

I already tried starting it up. It started but then just died. Made this horrible whine sound. I think something is wrong with the starter.

 

[GNO]

If it started then died, the starter works. The whine could be anything I originally thought belts, but then it wouldn't have died unless it was the timing belt.

Hopefully, it wasn't the bearings screaming do to lack of oil. It that's the case, you may have spun a bearing. That's a worse case scenario. Let's hope it's not that.

Pull the plugs out completely so you don't build up compression. Unplug the injectors and try turning it over again. Let us know how that works out.

 

[blackp5]

I don't think it was the bearings because I know what that sounds like. It happpened to my last motor. I'm having it towed to a local shop to have it checked out.

 

[blackp5]

My car is finally done! It's up and running after dying on me on mid March.

It was a vacuum leak that caused my car to die. The new gasket from the intake manifold and throttle body wasn't sealed correctly because my laziness didn't think scraping ALL of the old gasket was necessary. Lesson learned.

Just need to figure out why the ABS light stays on. I don't think I damaged it because I was careful with it the whole time. Need to get that checked out. Also need to get my A/C recharged since I let it out by accident.