Might be worth looking at, I wonder what qualifications are needed nowadays to become an rac or aa man, with all these so called technicians who actually know nothing but how to change a battery ect.
You might have a claim for an engine in hand.
I now look at it like this... It was a bad call by the RAC man to have me continue trying to pull the caravan up Bodmin Moor (grr!) but I can kind of see his predicament and it was also a bad call from me to agree to do it. He'd probably had umpteen self proclaimed mechanics self diagnosing none-issues over the preceding weeks and sent many on their merry way after their engine had cooled down etc. The first guy the AA sent to me was a great old bloke, said he was semi retired but the AA was paying his fees for him to stop in his own caravan in mid-Cornwall so they could send him to peak season call-outs such as mine. This bloke turned up, asked me for the story in which I explained the cat problem and told him the engine had seized, he took in what I'd said, looked me up and down and didn't even bother opening the bonnet before apologising that AA had sent him in a van and he'd have to call for re-reinforcements to get my car home. I said I didn't mind as I'd be enjoying breakfast in the pub on the beach over the road ;-) He told me about in his early days as an AA mechanic (which must have been 40 years ago) he had a Viva which were known to have a common problem of dizzy drive gears breaking up, he self diagnosed his problem and told AA staff but they still sent a little van to try and fix the problem on his drive..... at a time when his wife had begun labour with his first child and he intended to drive her to hospital. A good chat and I asked him if he fancied breakfast but he had stuff to do on works time.
I did a favour for a stranger on the Elgrand forum the other day, picked some secondhand custom Elgrand bits up from a scrapyard very near me (and much nearer to me than I though when I first offered... the guy said Wakefield area and that could have meant up to maybe 15 miles away but it turned out the scrappies is 1 mile from me), stranger sent me money by Paypal, I went to the scrappies and paid cash, boxed the bits up for him, he arranged collection. At the scrappies I saw the Elgrand the bits were being taken off, highly customised and in decent condition before it was rolled... and it still has it's engine! So, because of the favour I did I learned that there's a VQ35 engine (specific due to the Elgrand due to block engine mount casting position) only 1 mile away. So of course, while at the scrappies I asked how much for the engine... Wouldn't give me a price but asked me to make him an offer. I said I dunno, not only would I have to buy the engine I'd also have to fit it and rather than all the expense/time/messing I might just scrap mine. Scrappy said phone him back tomorrow and he'll give me a price (I suppose when he's researched how much they sell for), that was a few days ago and I haven't phoned him back yet... I don't want to seem over keen but haven't had much time anyway. I'll phone him back sometime next week and find out what price he's come up with.
Personally I'd give him a bell, the longer you leave it the more chance he has to find out that they are a specific engine so not as common as others.
Know what you mean but I reckon whatever price I offered (unless it was very high) he'd have ummed and ahhed and told me he'd get back to me tomorrow... and maybe either think I'd tried to have his pants down or think I was more desperate than I am (hmm do I need to rephrase this? lol).
Phoned the scrappies today, he still put the onus on me to suggest a price so I said £500 engine removed by them and he accepted.
I'll pop in tomorrow, check the dipstick for metal flake and emulsion and if all seems OK put a deposit down on it.
Now the thing is, has it got good AC pipes, maybe if there going to lift it up they could have a look
500 quid?? I remember when you could go into a scrappie and get an engine for £50......
Gilbertd wrote:
500 quid?? I remember when you could go into a scrappie and get an engine for £50......
You sound like me, my other half keeps reminding me it’s not the 80s,
I remember that too, but the cheapest VQ35DE Elgrand engine I've seen advertised anywhere has been £950 and they go for up to £2500 without having being reconditioned. Jap import stuff though bah!
Back in the late 70's I was running the remains of a Hillman Minx. One big end got so bad I dropped the sump off and pulled the head. Took the piston, con rod and pushrods out of that cylinder. Then coated a jubilee clip in gasket goo and put it round the crank journal to keep the oil pressure in and ran it like that for a month or so. Then my local scrappie got another Minx in, paid £25 for the engine and dropped it in the boot. Drove to my Uncle's place who had a hoist on a sliding I beam in his garage. Reversed the car in, hooked the engine in the boot up to the hoist, lifted it out and slid it to one side. Turned the car round, pulled the old engine out, slid that over to one side and sat it next to the 'new' one. Lifted that up, slid it over and dropped it in. £25 and about 4 hours work, things were just so much easier in those days......
I couldn’t agree more, but we were also a lot younger then, I used to be able to pick a 3.5 v8 up and walk around, now I think some buggers glued it to the floor, lol, took many engines out standing across the front struts with a length of rope round my neck,, if they didn’t start it was only 5 minutes to eliminate all causes,,
Eventually I will get the 70s car I want and have all that fun again ( boys and there toys)
2 of us once changed the engine on a Morris Marina using a lump of 4x4 fence post and a couple of rope slings. Known as the great white hunter method......
Helped a mate change the engine in a the Escort van by standing on the wings with a simple doubled rope sling between us to lift it in and out. Certain care needed when scrambling off and on. Hooking the gearbox on with out bending owt needed a jack and considerable verbal encouragement. All removal and installation done between tea and supper. Say 4 hours.
Took the body off a Reliant Regal as the being the quickest and easiest way to do a swop by myself with no lifting gear. Easily light enough to manhandle solo.
Six pot Triumph out of a GT6 was challenging on my own without lifting gear. Bonnet off, everything in front out of the way and a monster skateboard style platform did the deed once I'd figured how to get engine, gearbox and overdrive over the front of the chassis without ripping the steering off. Stage 1 tune probably wasn't the best idea even though it was a MK2 with some pretence at handling.
Clive
Whenever I did anything like that on a GT6/Herald/Spitfire, I used to take the transmission tunnel out (only a few bolts) so you could get to the bellhousing bolts from inside the car. Made it even better if it was raining...... I once changed a clutch on a Spitfire doing everything from inside.
The last engine I swapped was a Sierra's for a mate, I assembled the engine we put back in with hepolite pistons, fast road cam etc and ported head according to one of David Vizards specs. Used the same gear I'd always used to shift engines, just a chain block suspended from a high beam.. had loads of heavy engines out with that over the years including a straight 6 Senator engine still attached to the autobox so quite a long combined unit..
But I've never had a proper engine hoist, don't need one for work as I only do LPG stuff. The Elgrand engine sits further back than the windscreen, it will come out forward and upwards or can (most say more easily) come out by dropping the entire front subframe.. I don't have the gear to do either method but will buy an engine hoist and use the forward and upwards way if it comes to swapping the engine myself. I'd rather pay someone to do it because I'm so busy with LPG work, if I take time out from that it'll probably cost me more than paying someone else who has gear to get it done faster.
So far I've only put a deposit down on the engine, hopefully they won't think it's worth more than my offer and 'find a problem' that'll prevent the sale going through. The scrappy's mechanic is back at work on Monday when hopefully he'll start removing the engine... and I'm wondering if he can remove the engine could he also fit one... or would it be a bad idea to task someone who might be used to removing stuff with a crowbar and angle grinder to fit stuff. Asked a few garages I know if they'd be interested but seems none are interested in fitting engines these days.
Gilbertd wrote:
Spitfire
Second time today Spitfire engines have cropped up in discussion, both times my head went off track and I was at first more impressed than I should have been!
What's that film where Clint Eastwood carries a small iron block V8 with one arm across his scrapyard... lol.
It’s a pity your so far away, I’ve got an engine hoist sitting in the corner of the garage doing nothing.
Dropping the subframe is the best bet and you've got the gear for doing it already. Just unbolt it and let it sit on the floor then use your chain block to lift the front of the car off it.
Gilbertd wrote:
Dropping the subframe is the best bet and you've got the gear for doing it already. Just unbolt it and let it sit on the floor then use your chain block to lift the front of the car off it.
The only place I can attach the chain block is on the girder above the high garage door, there's a bit of a rise on the ground under this area but it is the same place I've had many engines out of cars. The more I think about it the more your idea makes sense and I might end up going that route if I do the job myself. I may yet do the job myself, realised I may have some time toward the end of this month.
I used my engine crane to change the engine on a Toyota MR2. Used it first to lower the unbolted engine down to the ground, then used it to lift the body up. Slid old engine out and new one in, then lowered the body back down and lifted the engine up into place.