So I started the second weekend thinking I could get the engine out by the Sunday. Hmmm.. things don’t always work out the way we want.
I guess the reasons are two fold, I am unfit having really worked on a car years ago, and I am lazy. You know the kind of laziness that sitting behind a computer all day brings, and remotes, and drive through’s and lists etc. I felt pretty old real quick. I remember stripping a car (or bike) being a whole lot easier!
I did make progress though.
Here is the intake minus the air box (That was completely crushed). Whats not too clear here is how bent the pipe is in the bend (doesn’t sound right does it?)
Here you can see my point, I don’t believe this angle should be so sharp on the bend, the flow here would be severely restricted, if anyone has a Falcon and is willing to share a pic or two let me know.
The wildcat branches in the process of being removed, I was hoping to only have to remove these, but ended up having to crawl under the car to remove two sections after them, just so that I could get enough room to get them out.
A whole lot of work happened before I took this pic! Even after getting the exhaust manifolds off I struggled to get the intake off as well. Considering it is a straight six, I was surprised how awkward it was to loosen the bolts for the inlet manifold. This took a great deal of time.
The aftermath of the inlet manifold removal, I was so glad it was out I had to take a photo, to remind myself it wasn’t a nightmare!
Looks like a dog that’s taking a pee, it’s on trestles so I can get the prop shaft loose and also loosen the gearbox. I was hoping to leave the box in and only pull the motor out but there are a few bolts that I cannot loosen while the engine is in the car. Bugger, now I need to make place for both.
Was getting ready to pack up on the Saturday when I though I would snap a piccie of the branches. My wife says the car sounds like a truck, and I think these might have something to do with that 
What’s missing? Yes thats right! I cut a section out in front of the shock absorber, the section was so crumpled it was fouling the wheel when it was turned to the left.
Another piccie showing whats missing.
The part I cut out, not really recognisable as anything!
Heres a pic showing the damage to the lower radiator cradle. Damn! Look closely on the right hand side of the pic and you can see where the chassis is creased, just in front of where the bash plate bolts on.
Close up view of the damage and the creased chassis.
Last pic showing what I cut out I promise!
If you have noticed the date on the pics you will see I actually did the work a while back, unfortunately the Wednesday after these picks were taken my Bantam was stolen.
This meant that the following weekend was spent clearing everything I could from the Garage in case they decided to come “collect” my wife’s car too.
I guess I should be angry, but instead I am just so bitterly disappointed, I still can’t believe it’s true.
Fair enough it may not have been anything special, but to replace it is just way beyond my means right now. It also means that when it comes time to buy and collect parts for the XR 6 I will either have to abuse my wife’s poor old Tazz, or go and ask my neighbour to help me out with his bakkie. It is all just so unnecessary.
Posted under Project Falcon
This post was written by Shaun on November 19, 2008
