Merry Christmas to ME!!

A couple of weeks ago Collin asked me to please leave the Hondmatic key out on my dresser.  He didn't explain why, but mysteriously hinted at the notion that he may need to get into the Hondamatic for some reason or another

A couple of days ago Collin mentioned that while walking Itsy he had seen some parking tickets on other cars in the neighborhood that had been parked on the street in the same spot for over 72 hours.  This has always been a fear of mine, that the Hondmatic would be ticketed or even towed for sitting in the same spot for too long.  Seattle parking enforcement laws...  It hasn't happened yet, our street is sort of obscure, but still, it could...  I'm glad my neighbors don't seem to mind.  So Collin suggested that he move the Hondamatic a few feet forward.  I heartily agreed.  Well later that night when I got home the Hondamatic was in the same spot.  Collin said that he wasn't able to push it forward so he just swept up the leaves and debris that had accumulated in the gutter around the wheels to make it look like the Hondamatic hadn't been just sitting there for ages and ages.  I accepted this reasoning without question, although I did mention that it seemed strange that he couldn't move the Hondamatic when we did so easily a few months ago.  It only weighs 2000 pounds with everything in it.

This morning Collin asked me to walk Itsy with him before he went away to run errands before going to work.  I got bundled up, put a leash on Itsy and stuffed a poop-pick-up baggy in my pocket.  We went outside and I saw the hood was off the Hondamatic.  In the first second I had a shock and thought a stranger had taken it off to mess around with the Hondamatic.  Then I saw the SHINY REBUILT BLOCK resting securely in its home!!!! 

OMG!!!  Merry Christmas to ME!!!

Super secret Santa-Collin had spent the past couple days (which were sunny, mild and perfect) re-installing my engine!!!

He says that I may have a fully operational Hondamatic by the New Year.

I said I'd be so happy to even have it before February.

Unfortunately, no pictures were taken in the process of re-installation.  We'll just have to rebuild another car to make another step-by-step blog. 

I have starter oil in it now, which is green, so once it's running I am not allowed to go over 35mph for the first 500 miles.  Just trips downtown, to my sister's new house, the grocery store and to Collin's place are permitted basically.  No freeways. 

Collin spent a lot of time on the phone with Robbie from the machine shop.  Apparently a rod was installed backwards.  Oops. 

There's even a new oil filter and brand new spark plugs in already!!!

This is so exciting!

Middle of December - Twenty-Eleven

Ack!  The year is almost over.  It's dark when I wake up.  It's dark when I go to work.  It's dark when I drive home and by default, when I get home.  When it's not dark then it's raining.  If it's not raining then it's cloudy and overcast.

Speaking of clouds...you're the reason I missed the full lunar eclipse last weekend.  Yeah, I'm talking to you!

Why am I blogging about the weather and (non-existent) hours of (null) daylight on a blog devoted to the rebuild of the Hondamatic?

Because the Hondamatic is not getting rebuilt.  It's still sitting there.  On the street. Alone. Pathetic. Embarrassed.
The engine is done and beautiful.  It's all in one piece now.  A nice long block.  Even the timing belt is on and ready for action.  But it's still at the shop.  Physically I am simply not able to lift the engine by myself.  Collin and I are never together before the shop closes.  I'm working, for the most part, up in Arlington at a salvage yard, so I don't get to Seattle until after six most nights.  Collin is always at one of his three jobs.  It's December, and the hospitality field is at its peak, you know.  The double-and-triple-shifts-7-days-a-week-for-an-entire-month will be worth it when there's no work whatsoever in January.  So in the meantime I can do nothing except wait for an opportunity to arise when we can get the engine back.  I paid for the work and parts already and they were very pleased.

The other night I saw Collin putting a bolt that was missing onto the engine hoist.  As far as I can tell it's ready to go.  Hmmm.  But we have a former roomates possessions (waiting for pick-up) blocking the front of the garage making it difficult to manuever the hoist out...or the Hondamatic in.

I drove my car for 11 days before it blew up in a cloud of smoke and it's been sitting there since MAY.  I know it's ridiculous to love the Hondamatic.  I seriously think about giving up sometimes but then I remember how much I adore it.

I so want to drive my car again.

Here I Am Again!

Did I ever mention that the engine is done.  Well, it is and has been for a couple, few weeks.  I still have the money to pay for it.  I am glad I had the self control to not spend it.  But it did turn out to be more than I anticipated.  $1877. Sheesh.

When I first heard the saying that fixing old cars "always takes longer and costs more than you thought" I believed for sure that wouldn't be me.  No way.  It'll take me about six weeks, tops. 

Well that didn't happen.

I finally got all the parts clean too.  Collin made me.  It felt good doing it, and I am glad that everything is grease free, but getting out to the garage, especially now that it's rainy and gross and cold, was a chore in itself. 

I put the space heater next to my chair, set up the Purple Power bucket and the warm water to rinse bucket and got out my scrubby brushes.  I can't believe that I tried to clean parts before without a scrubby brush.  That one little item saved me so much time and got everything so shiny!  Now all the little parts are spotless, labeled and in their baggies in a box ready to be re-installed into my car that is sitting out on the street sad and rotting.

****

I have to go get my engine!  I'm trying to coordinate this with Collin.  We have to get there M-F before 6pm.  Then how are we going to get it in the car when we pick it up?  Which car are we going to pick it up in?  All these things.

So Close...

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAAAAAY! 

Just to check up I called the machine shop again yesterday.  The engine is only bout a week away from completion.  All the parts are in and everything is moving along well.  I have been asked to bring the oil pan in as well to have the seal put on.  And they'll clean it up too!

Here's the clincher...  I'll be in Cleveland for two weeks.  Oh the timing...

For your viewing pleasure in the meanwhile, please enjoy my Halloween costume pictures.

This took about a week of evenings to make

About three cardboard boxes were sacrificed for this creation

The headlights and taillights really do light up at the flick of a switch

Get it?

Newest Acquisition

I found this contraption for $100 on craigslist.  I thought it was such a great deal, and it is!  But when Collin put it together only then did I realize that it is huge!  It's a two ton hoist!  My tiny 100lb is going to look so goofy hanging from that hook!  The hoist could theoretically lift the Hondamatic in its entirety.  Then the house! 

Owning this chery picker pretty much means that Collin and I are are now required to buy broken vehicles just to take the engines out and fix them. 

For the rest of our lives. 

Pretty cool!

TWO TONS!

OMG! What weighs EIGHT TONS?

It Finally Happened

Yard sales are good for some things.  You see, Sunday was the continuation and final day of getting rid of stuff and making money on it.  A man from out of town stopped by, didn't buy anything, but noticed the Hondamatic sitting on the street witht he hood off.  Collin and the nice stranger began a conversation and it turns out this man is a mechanic by trade.  He provided pointers on how to get the block out.  Turns out he really knew what he was talking about.

The block could be pulled out by tying a wire to either end and swinging this same wire over a two-by-four, conveniently located in our garage full of stuff.  The two-by-four was place above the block resting on some old clothes (from the yard sale non-sales) on top of the fenders as illustrated below.

To support the transmission Collin tied a thick rope around the frame under the transmission to sort of cradle it since we were not taking it out with the block.  That and the center rail is also bolted to the transmission.  See how pretty it looks all cleaned up in comparison to the rest of the engine compartment?  (Look in the middle.)  Yes, I did scrape all that nastiness off. 

Keeping the transmission secured up  with the rope allowed Collin the ability to take off the front and rear brackets that hold up the block and transmission as those were what was not allowing the block to be removed with them still in place.

Collin literally dead lifted the block out of the Hondamatic.  I helped a little.  Leaning over the left fender Collin grabbed either side of the block with the two-by-four underneath his left armpit.  I was helping lift from the front of the Hondamatic.  Using the two-by-four as leverage, Collin rolled backwards letting the two-by four roll down the side of the fender, essentially lifting him and the block out of the engine compartment.  Then very carfully the block was dumped onto the grass on the edge of the sidewalk. 

Ever vigilant of her people, Itsy made sure that she was always close by to render any assistance necessary.  Her first impulse every time she came down to the Hondamatic was to go under the car where Collin was often lying.  Little girl finally resigned herself to staying on the sidewalk watching and half-napping.

What A Lazy Day

Yay!!  I got the call from the radiator shop that the radiator is good and ready for pick up on Thursday.  Since I never get off of work on time, and even if I did leave at 5pm then I still wouldn't make it to get my radiator, I arranged to pick it up on Friday morning before work.  My repair guy brought it out and I really didn't believe that it was mine.  It is so beautiful!!  See the picture below.  It was in great shape for its age and it got boiled and cleaned and patched up a bit at a crease and then a fresh coat of paint. 

Gorgeous!!

$72.00 !!

I couldn't very well put an immaculate radiator back into a filthy engine much less put a disgusting fan cover back onto its fresh radiator.  So the bigger issue will be of course cleaning the engine compartment.  The more attainable goal at present was to clean up the fans and the fan cover.  If you remember it looked pretty bad: peeling cracking paint, a little rusty, greasy as all get out...  I finally cracked open the bottle of degreaser and went to town on the cover.  It was gross (but not as bad as the center rail that I tackled later).  I scrubbed and scrubbed as much as I could.  I couldn't soak the cover in the degreaser because of the electrical hookups on it and due to its size.  I don't have a container that big.  I finally decided the clean up was sufficient and hosed it off.  I took the fans off and wiped them down.  I then spray-painted the cover the silver Rustoleum that I bought for the wheels.  Hmmm.  It was a lot shinier than I had thought, I guess I'll be rollin' bling-y rims. 

Whatever, the radiator looks amazing now!!



BEFORE



AFTER



*********************

Collin and I opened shop and had a yard sale today as well.  Both of us were up before dawn.  Collin arrived here a little after 6am and we went all around the neighborhood and further to hang up the 17 yard sale signs that we made last night in very strategic locations.

Then Collin masterfully manuevered the Hondamatic backwards down the driveway and to the left around the curb corner to perfectly parallel park on the street using only the e-brake.  Remember, no engine.
We loaded all of our disposable possessions into the now empty driveway and proceeded to make some money. 
We had a fairly good turnout despite the fact that my street is somewhat difficult to find and no one has ever heard of it.
I took some pictures of the engine compartment with the sun actually shining on it.  It looks a lot different with more light.  We tried to get some work done while in the midst of the sale but we kept getting pleasantly interrupted.  Most of the work on the Hondamatic was done after 3pm.
Oh, and Collin sold his own  '98 Honda Accord.  So I will be riding my bike to work for the forseeable future.  All the more reason to get the Hondamatic up and running as soon as possible.

I ended up cleaning not only the radiator fan and cover but also various bolts that Collin was taking out of the engine trying to to get the block out.  As I mentioned earlier I cleaned up the center rail.  It was NASTY.  I was (wearing gloves and with my cloth) literally scratching off 2cm thick goop and gunk.  Grooooossssss.  It looked good when I was done though.  Got those bolts cleaned too.  Collin put it back on to support the transmission when he tried to get the block off it.  That didn't really work out.  The block will not come off.  There are only a couple of things hindering the removal, but that's really enough.  But we got the starter and the oil pan out.  I cleaned up the oil pan nuts and bolts. 
But it was getting dark and we needed to clean up the sale and run around and change the dates and times on the 17 yard sale signs.  And eat dinner and clean up and then sleep. 
It was nice though.  Althought our yard sale was officially over at 3pm we did get some stragglers until 7 or so since we just left the stuff out.

In the sun from the left

In the sun from the right

More RadiYAYtor News

The radiator is in good shape!  A few minor repairs on the top end and it's good to go.  And cleaned up too!  All for $72. Can't wait to pick it up tomorrow morning before work. 

RadiYAYtor!

I finally got the radiator to the radiator shop. It's so cute. It's this little shop behind another shop that's behind The BurgerMaster on a small side street.  The one guy that is there is really nice.  And it appears that they don't take credit/debit.  I saw paper ledgers.  I don't recall seeing a computer anywhere.
Then he asked, you know, why I was bringing it in.  He asked if the radiator was overheating.  I explained that the head gasket blew in my car so I was rebuilding the entire engine.   Well, he siad, maybe there was a block in the radiator that caused the gasket to blow.  Heh?  A new problem?  Now what?  So he's going to boil the radiator, clean it up and see if it's salvagable.

I brought the oil pump gear to the macine shop.  The guy there was very happy to see it.  But he said it looked like it was in really good shape.  So he went and grabbed the cam shaft to show me what had happened to it.  Seriously, all the teeth were ground down half way.  I wish I'd thought to take a picture.  He didn't want to keep the gear since it was fine.  Maybe when the cam is fixed I'll have more power in the Hondamatic. 

So he was going to go ahead and get started on the head.  But I asked him to wait.  I want to make sure the radiator is fine since I don't think I could find another one that is exactly for the Hondamatic.  Plus Collin and I are planning on getting the block out this Saturday during the garage sale.

Week Tenthousandeighteentrillion

Ugh.  It feels like it's been forever since I started this project.  At first I scoffed at the adage that a car rebuild/restoration "always takes longer and costs more than one originally thinks."  I thought for sure that I would be the one to throw that notion into the garbage bin that sits in the same driveway as the Hondamatic.  Well, I was wrong.  So wrong.
I called the machine shop yesterday just to check up on the status of the head there.  The conversation went somewhat like this:

***

Me:  Hi, I was just checking on how my 78 Honda head that I brought in about 4 (?) weeks ago is coming along.
Machine shop guy:  Oh.  Well we have been waiting on the block.  We thought you were going to bring the block in.
Me:  Oh... (pause) yes.  I am going to bring it in.... (another pause) Once I figure out how to get it out of the car.  Were you also waiting on the fuel pump gear?
Guy:  Yes.  We didn't want to start working on the head and then get the block and find out that there was something wrong with it.  It wouldn't make much sense to have a good head and a bad block.  And it's the oil pump gear.
Me:  Of course that's what I meant (I always say that and get oil pump and fuel pump interchanged in my mind).  Ok.  I'll, uh, figure out how to get the block out and bring it over.  Sorry it's taking so long.  I don't know how to get it out.
Guy:  No problem.
Me:  Ok. Thanks.

***

Man.  I have got to get that block out of the car.  Argh!!
Nice of them though to not work on something that's over $400 and then absolutely useless to me if the block is bad. 
Collin and I are going to a wedding today and we have to leave in a few hours.  I have a few light chores to do, but I was hoping to crack open the degreaser I bought and clean up some of the parts and nuts and bolts we took out already.  And maybe wipe down the engine compartment.  Too ambitious for today?  Maybe.  Gotta go.  Parts don't get degreased on the internet machine.

Very Little Progress

Look at this engine compartment!  So empty.  It's so nice.  I almost wish that the Hondmatic would run on so little.  Alas, we do eventually have to get all of the parts and pieces that we took out back in.  I ache to drive the Hondamatic again.  One hold up is the block.  Haha!  I'm blocked by the block!  I really don't know how to get it out.  Really the only thing I can think is to get the Hondamatic to Collin's friend's garage and work on it there.  He has an engine hoist, the know-how, a flat space to work on vehicles.  I'm very frustrated now since this seems to be taking so long.  Not only that but I have a garage full of stuff, not including all the random engine parts and pieces lying around.  This stuff is certainly getting in my way and I am certainly letting it block my mind from the task at hand.  I am still waiting for word from the machine shop on the status of the head and valves.  I wonder when they will be done...  In the meantime though I bought some degreaser and plan on using it to clean up all the parts and pieces and bolts and even the to wipe down the engine compartment a little.  Collin thinks that will make me feel a little better about the whole process if we have clean parts to reinstall.  That and he wants to replace all the hoses too.          

Radiator Is Out!

Last Thursday I attempted the daunting task of getting the radiator out by myself.  It was extremely frustrating and I accomplished nearly nothing except getting myself worked up.  The instructions didn't make any sense and they honestly made it all seem a lot easier than it, in reality, was.  I managed to get two electrical connections undone and nothing else.

Look at this ugly sucker

Say what?

On Saturday Collin helped out while I started breakfast.  He finally unhinged the hood.  I was trying to avoid doing that this whole time.  Then he took off the grill and was able to get to most of the bolts and electrical connections.  But that wasn't enough.  No.  We needed to get another panel off the car to get underneath to access the radiator. 

Naked front end

After much tugging and coaxing, and after breakfast, we did get the radiator out.  Now the engine compartment looks so empty.

The radiator void

Beware the Nothing

Phone Call

The machine shop called...

Yes, the Hondamatic head is still in good!!  Yay!
They said the cam is bad though.  Blown?  Something.  This is a result of a oil pump gear that needs to be repaired or replaced.  Ha!  I tried to give them the oil pump rod and gear when I dropped the head off and they said they wouldn't need it.  So I get to bring it back when I bring the block in. 

Collin can help me get under the car using my new jack and stands to get the oil pan off first, then we have to remove the axle and get the block off the transmission...  I'm not sure in which order.  The manual will tell us.

This is great.  Once the car is up I can get the wheels off too.  I bought some nice gray spraypaint to make the rims look nice too.  I tried to clean them up but it just wasn't working.

I feel like we're so close but there is so much left to do.

Delivered

I brought the top end of the engine to the machine shop this last Saturday.  That's really the first step in determining how much further to go. 

If the head is good then we can go ahead (no pun intended) and order the gasket set.  After that I can use my newly purchased jack and stand set to get the block off the transmission and get it out  of the car to have it checked and machined as well.

The word on the street is that copper radiators are no longer made.  Actually, that's what the parts guy told me.  So we need to get the radiator off and get it dipped and boiled (and plated in gold) etc...

After all that, I guess we just need to put the Hondamatic back together...

I'm excited to hear what the shop has to say.

Professional Check-Up

Eric came by today and did a thorough look through of the engine and necessary steps to get the Hondamatic back on the road.

First he poured a little gas into each cylinder to check the piston seals.  Since gas is so thin, if there was any leak or gap in the seals the gas would just empty out through it.  There was no movement in the level of gas in any of the cylinders whatsoever.  This is GREAT news!!

Second we looked at the head and valves and gaskets and Eric walked me through the process of our next move.  Eric actually showed me where the head gasket blew - it was a charred spot next to the 3rd and 4th cylinder wall.  I guess he could tell by looking at the damage that I had not driven the car much after it blew.  He was correct.  Remember, I just drove it around the block and then parked it and only started it up again to move it into the driveway.

Third he complimented me and Collin on a job well done with the extraction of all the parts.  We only lost one piece the whole time and it was a spring that goes onto a knob type bolt.  Eric explained that this spring is actually used to keep the bolt tightened on so it doesn't rattle around.  Not too tragic that it's gone, but we should try to find a replacement nonetheless.

My to do list compiled by Eric looks like this:
1. Make sure auto parts store can locate gaskets and heat shields
2. Bring the head to the machine shop - maybe they can adjust the valves as well?
3. Bring the alternator too to have inspected
4. Bring the intake manifold to get cleaned
5. Bring the valve cover also to get cleaned
6. Ask auto parts store how much a new copper radiator costs - If it's too expensive then get the original one  inspected and cleaned
7. Take out radiator to clean or replace

After the head is inspected and IF it is still good:

8. Buy the following:
head bolt tap
timing belt
water pump
a new and good thermostat
fuel filter
spark plugs
oil
etc...
9. Sand down the block with a piece of 2x4 wrapped with 80grit sand paper until it's nice and smooth
10. Call Eric to get the Hondmatic put back together

Things Are Moving?

I called Eric and I was so happy!  He was so nice and not intimidating at all.  He laughed and joked with me and is super willing to come take a look at my car. 
He also mentioned that replacing the head gasket may be the only thing necessary as this is a common problem and occurence with these old Hondamatics.  One way to find out of the piston seals are bad is to pour solvent on top pf the cylinders and see if they hold the fluid or if it seeps down. 
The only way, of course, for Eric to know for sure what we are dealing with is for him to come take a look in person.
He wasn't able to make it over last night since he had to go fix a friend of a friend's wheelchair but he will come over on Friday evening and we'll pop the hood and discuss.

New Direction

We've come so far as to get down to the block.  Up to this point I think we'd still been kicking around the idea of only replacing the head gasket and putting the engine back together.

We could...that option is still open.

I wonder if that is what is holding me back?  Am I still trying to save as much money as I can and do as little as possible even though I had already decided the minute that billowy white cloud materialized out of my exhaust pipe that I was going to keep the Hondamatic until the bitter end? 

Maybe I'm nervous because talking to the repair guys intimidates me.  They all have their opinions about my Hondamatic and they all lean towards giving up or if not so explicitly stated then inbetween lines such as "we can't find parts" or "we don't do engine rebuilds but we can put a used motor in... a motor that we can't find."  And so on. 

Where does this tenacity come from?  Why this car? 

I don't know.  Because I own it, because I have the title maybe.  Because as a teenager I had fantasized about moonlighting as a mechanic possibly.  Because there is no reason why my Hondamatic can't be my classic car.  It isn't right or fair for other people to tell me that I shouldn't put any money into this car when ther are hundreds and thousands of classic cars out there that people put back together and put on the roads.  Is it really only the muscle cars from the 60s and 70s and VW bugs and 50s or earlier cars that are worth rebuilding and keeping in good condition?  I tell you what, when my Hondamatic is the last one running and looking nice people will want to come see it. 

I will get the Hondamatic in gear again!  I got a number from a guy at Action Autoparts for another guy who does this kind of work.  He'll either come to me or tow the Hondamatic to his shop and fix it right up. 

I just need to make that call.

Useful Things

Collin found these babies on Craigslist for $20!!  So in a mad dash from work to the ATM (because I just don't ever carry cash), with a few wrong turns to the freeway in rush hour, through a never before visited neighborhood (thank goodness GPS was invented) I got to the car ramps and procurred them before we met up with friends for dinner while Collin took Itsy (Assistant Pug previously mentioned in an earlier post) on a walk and made sure she had dinner and went to the bathroom.

Whew!

Putting the ramps to good use, Collin changes his oil in the Oldsmobile.  For which I am grateful.  I get the pleasure of driving this car this weekend instead of his Accord, since the Accord is also due for an oil change at the dealership (it's more complicated??) and Collin will be driving it there.  Yes, I work this Saturday and Collin works both nights.  We may never see each other while I try to save more money to get the Hondamatic running.

At the moment we are waiting for an engine lift that a friend owns to become available to us.  Then we can get the rest of the block out to take it to the shop to have rebuilt.  Then we'll put it back in whent he shop is done. 

I cannot wait to have my car running again.  I miss it.  And did I mention that my mom got me some car mats at the Grocery Outlet to protect my red shag carpet? 

This oil pan is going to be so full when we're done with it.

YAY!!

Collin got the head off!

Looks a bit charred.

All the gaskets in a row.

Back At It

These are really the only pictures I took today.  Although we spent nearly three hours in the car, we managed to get very little accomplished.

We were following the instructions in both the Chilton's and the Original Honda Manuals, which basically say unbolt the valve head bolts and pull the top off to get to the head gasket.  So we did.  The head won't budge.

See, these are the bolts out of the head.

Here, under the exhaust intake and manifold we have a bolt that we thought might need to come off.  It hasn't come off yet, but with a little liquid wrench, Collin was able to dislodge three bolts hiding underneath the exhaust.  I mean it though, when we put the Hondamatic back together we really need to get her lifted off the ground.  Just to make it easier to reach these places from underneath.

This little widget here was actually pushed into the red part.  I don't know what it's purpose is, but it looks like it stabilizes or holds something else into place.  It was in the way.

Collin decided he needed more space so he began taking more stuff out of the car.  I think I caught all the bolts and parts flying around and have them labeled and bagged properly.  I may also be hoping that Collin remembers where some loose bolts and pieces belong.  He handed me something, I think it was the oil pump and parts, and had me place it inside the valve cover, which is now lying in the garage.

So, we are kind of at a loss as to how to get the head off the gasket and block.  Even with the crowbar we made some space inbetween but weren't able to pull it off.

But Collin did find a car cover in his storage space, which is AWESOME!!  Since my car just sits there it attracts all kinds of sticky tree juices, pollens, bird crap, sunlight damaging the incredible interior.  I washed the Hondamatic and covered it after we were done.  I feel much better about it now.

Hiatus

I forgot to mention that the blog will continue in about a week. I am attending a memorial for my step-mom in San Diego.  Dad needs all the support and love he can get.

Funny little side note: brother, dad and I all have cars in the approximate state of "non-operation."

I think I Missed Something

I had to work late tonight.  All kinds of accidents happening over the weekend and so many people to call....
Collin got frustrated watching the Canucks lose, so he went out to the Hondamatic and started taking stuff out of it.  So I didn't get to see exactly what came off, and I didn't get any pictures this time, but it appears as though the white cap that was on the end of the motor is off, the timing belt came off, the oil filter (completely fouled) came out.  That's really all I saw.  I think Collin had it under control, though.

A Little More Progress

Ha!  We got the carburetor off!

The cooling pan was next...

Got the nuts of the exhaust manifold - except the two that are in that hole underneath everything.  How on earth did they even get put on?

And this would be Collin taking the support off of the engine.

There it is - so one side of the engine is loosened...

And this would be the other side of the engine.  It had to come off too.  Now the engine is sort of "floating" in the car. 

Before we could get it off, though, we had to loosen and move to the side the power steering fluid container that was bolted to the side of the car.