Pulling out the engine

[jjefferson]

Another funny moment from the life of Jim.

Well first let me say we all have our moments.

Currently pulling the engine out the M37 Plow Truck affectionately known as the blue plow truck. The truck has a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere engine in it, which needs some love - just pulled the head and found a bad piston and a few bad valves.

This process is done under the barn, surrounded by the usual stuff – lumber piles, cord wood, rototillers, snowblowers, garden tools etc etc. Basically just enough room but not really enough room.

Anyways - pulling the motor out – all the needed accessories come off with relative ease ( including the plow and its head gear)– mind you its all under 30 years of oil leaks, dirt mud and stuff. Was planning on pulling out the entire plant all at once – nice and easy. Turns out when the Plymouth engine went in they skipped a few steps with the radiator and it was only half way hooked up. So had to wrestle the fan shroud and the radiator out sooner then planned.

Finally get it all ready to go. Winch the truck forward so it’s under one of the barn beams. Make up a pick point for the head (which I just put back on) and start pumping away. Comes out relatively easy, missed one of the bolts on the gas peddle linkage, took a few minutes to figure that out. So now the plan is to winch the truck backwards while the engine hangs static on the chain fall. Turns out I am putting a lot of effort in getting the truck to roll backwards.. Ah must be the crushed rock floor says I. I don’t see any hang ups from the engine side of things. Keep pumping away on the come-a-long. At some point I hear this little “pop” and the truck begins to roll with little to no effort.

Walk around to the front of the truck - after tripping over the air hose, and the 32 foot ladder. All seems OK. Engine is hanging there about halfway over the front bumper. Keep winching the truck until she is clear and then go admire my handy work.

Wait a minute! What is that little 4 foot steel wire coming out the head of the engine – turns out I had captured the end of the choke cable between the block and the head when I put the head back on. I had been fighting the choke cable the entire time while trying to pull the truck back. Which would also explain why the engine kept hanging at a funny angle when I was picking it.

If that’s the worst of my problems then I am doing OK. Will just have to order a new choke cable when I order the rest of the parts.

Just another day under the barn. I am sure I will have more to follow.

Jim

[Lifer]

You made my morning! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one to ever have had days like that!

[SOTVEN]

WELL MY FRIEND, I HOPE ALL THE OBSTACLES IN YOUR WAY OF DOING THIS REPAIR, BE ONLY AS SMALL AND TINY AS THIS INCIDENT, AND NOTHING WORSE