Mudrunner88 is getting a 7M-GTE / 7MGTE Motor swap

mudrunner88 · #21 11-04-2005, 08:01 PM

Yeah, I need the luck...I won't give it. It will just take me a long time to finish that's all. If I had money and didn't need to worry about my kids and all then I would be done in no time...I'm sure some of you understand. You can actually get a lot done with no money...Just need to appreciate the fact that if you break someones tools then you need to replace them.

Anybody have ideas about the piston situation yet? If I had a engine stand I would have the oil pan off by now.

hupptoy · #22 11-04-2005, 09:08 PM

You can pick up an engine stand at
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=32915
for $40 (sometimes goes on sale cheaper...). They also have higher capacity (1K or 2K lbs) ones if you search.

hupptoy

mudrunner88 · #23 11-04-2005, 09:12 PM

Yeah I know...I'm kicking myself for not getting one at the Harbor Freight Store in VA Beach before I left! Now I gotta wait till I got cash and pay shipping. Maybe there will be a tool show here soon.

mkmarz · #24 11-04-2005, 10:20 PM

im pretty sure auto zone has them for about 50

yodta · #25 11-05-2005, 12:25 AM

Wow Kev,
that piston thing's got me puzzled. does it look like anyone's been in it before you got to it? I haven't seen too many cases of serious bottom end engine damage, so I can't really think of anything that would cause that piston to stick up like that, but yeah, it's not just a little. maybe PM Gnarls or one of the guys who's been doing this longer than we have.

I love the runners on the intake! reminds me of the setup for sidedraft Webers!

freaked me out for a second when I first saw the state of the head gasket with regard to the roundness, or lacktherof, of the fire ring. I wondered for a second if they were supposed to be oblong. again, did it look like someone had been in there, or was it shaped like that when you pulled the head off?

good job on the photos. now ya just gotta learn how to work that macro feature for the close-ups! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

yeah, I think engine stands are pretty much the same price anywhere, aren't they? get one with the two legs that go out. I skimped years ago and got the one with the one leg shaped like a T. I always feel like I'm gonna tip it.

I don't have welding gear and don't know how to. I tend to shy away from the fabrication type jobs. even simple bodywork is pushing it for me. you're a brave soul taking this on. can't wait to see how it all shapes up.

mudrunner88 · #26 11-05-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Wow Kev,
that piston thing's got me puzzled. does it look like anyone's been in it before you got to it? freaked me out for a second when I first saw the state of the head gasket with regard to the roundness, or lacktherof, of the fire ring. I wondered for a second if they were supposed to be oblong. again, did it look like someone had been in there, or was it shaped like that when you pulled the head off?

Nope, looks factory and all the stuff was untouched as far as the leaking valve covers and the head bolts and intake and that stuff...It all looked untouched and factory. The head gasket was just the way you see when I took it apart...I was very careful not to alter it's state so I got good photos for ya guys.

Quote:

good job on the photos. now ya just gotta learn how to work that macro feature for the close-ups! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Actually the macro feature is easy on my camera but you need to be VERY still or they blur. I was running out of daylight and just wanted a quick shot...I will maybe rest the camera on the deck and macro a shot of that funky piston later. I was thinking...I didn't try to push on it yet with some down-force...If it sinks then I got a bad connecting rod or bearings loose somewhere...I will try that tommorow.

Yeah I was looking into the two leg stands myself...I used to borrow a one leg style and felt the same way...Actually my dads garage floor was 2x4's with plywood on top and I sunk a S.B. 350 through the floor once on the single foot. DOH!!! SORRY DAD! So I will invest in the two leg style pretty soon I guess. I'm dying to rip open the bottom end and look but just don't want the muscle aches and pains from moving the block around alone. More to come soon...I will be cleaning and painting a lot I guess.

yodta · #27 11-05-2005, 12:41 AM

yeah, I was wondering if maybe the bearings were completely gone in that connecting rod. definitely post what you find when you get into it.

mudrunner88 · #28 11-05-2005, 05:42 PM

Well I have some news about the mystery piston...It's good news and bad news...The good news is somebody had pulled the oil pan and messed with the bottom end so that piston was only finger tight on the connecting rod around the crank.

The bad news is all the crank bolts and connecting rods are all finger tight. The oil pump was finger tight...Looks like somebody was gonna rip it apart and stopped. The crank pulley bolt is being stubborn...I might have to strip the block as far as I can then get a impact gun to get that bolt out. I only had a few hours today so that's all I accomplished. At least I know why that looked funny now though.

yodta · #29 11-06-2005, 12:37 AM

you were doing a complete rebuild anyway, weren't you?

mudrunner88 · #30 11-06-2005, 01:02 AM

I was expecting to...But I didn't want to replace anything that wasn't necessary...So if the bottom end looked good I was only gonna check the bearings and that's about it. Now I'm probably gonna strip the block and end up hot tanking it and the whole 9 yards...Oh well...At least I will know it won't come unglued as long as I put it togehter right. I started pricing parts since I will need a lot more now and it's gonna take awhile to do this project cause I really don't have money for parts right now. So I guess I will take it one step at a time.