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.  

Assistant Pug

If No One Wants To Help, Then Bygum, We'll Do It Ourselves

I can hardly describe how discouraged I felt yesterday after calling eight shops and having each one tell theat they either don't do engine rebuilds or do but won't rebuild mine.  The reasons are all the same.  Either finding parts is an issue or finding an engine to relace mine is the issue.  Only one guy was nice enough to even discuss my car with me for more than a minute.  He felt that finding parts wouldn't be a problem but he still advised against rebuilding my engine or even replacing it.  It's all the same - I should just get a new car. 

I get it.  And that is good, honest advice for most.  But not for me and this Hondamatic.

Collin was really supportive and understanding and helped me get through my evening of second-guessing myself and our plans.

We really went at the engine today.

Here is Collin taking out the battery.  We dug in and started getting everything out of the way.

Everything that comes out gets labeled with a number that corresponds to the plug or port it belongs to.  This piece to the left had some residue of the awesome coolant/oil sludge mixture the engine turned into.

The spark plugs and the order they go in.  Only two of them were really fouled.  Whatever, though, We're going to replace them all

Ha!  The alternator went here before it came out.  Call me naive, but I was really surprised at the substantial weight of both the alternator and the battery.  Very heavy for such small packages.

This hook was held on by the dual purpose screw cap on top of the valve cover here to hold a wire out of the way.

The distributor also came out.  And with it came pouring a bunch of that same coolant/oil sludge mixture that I mentioned previously.

We were so curious, we had to see what was under the valve cover.  Hmmm. 12 Valves.  They all look like they are in great shape.  If not for the thick gray milky coating of coolant/oil covering ever millimeter of every valve and groove and nook and cranny.  It's all over everything.  And the inside of the cover appears not so immune to the coating either.



 Hard work looks like this.

We're getting closer.

One foul sparky!

Look at that!  Isn't that pretty?!  All the wires and hoses are labeled and set aside for re-installation.  We only ripped one small hose that we'll either replace or just use it shorter, and one spring that fell into the car somewhere.  The carbuerator was going to come off today but we couldn't get to the last bolt that was hiding underneath.  Once  we get it off, it should be only a short time before we get to the head and hopefully we can take the whole engine out.

Confusing Mind Boggling Times

I am getting confused.  I just don't know which way to go.  I called the place that replaced my master brake cylinder about a month ago (before the Hondamatic rumbled it's last rumble).  I asked for advice on where to take the Hondamatic for an engine swap out.  Believe it or not, they do it there!  I provided the Hondamatic's specs and the owner said he'd search around for an engine and call me back.  He was imaging the parts and labor would fall somewhere in the range of $1200-$1700.  I really could live with that. 
I did get a call back and I was told that there was no Hondamatic engine anywhere on the entire west coast.  There was one in New York but the shipping would be insane.  In addition I was also told that no one would rebuild my existing engine since the parts were not readily available if available at all.  His advice, scrap the Hondamatic and get a new car.
Can you feel my deflation?  This is awful awful news.  But it also didn't quite make sense.  I had been able to find some parts in my research on the magic internet machine thingy.  At least that's what the websites claim... I guess whether or not the parts truly exist is the question.
I relayed this sad sad (mis)information to Collin.  He replied that I should get some rebuild (not replace) quotes because a friend of his would do the work for 70% of the average quoted price and maybe even for less if we helped. 
Hmmmmm......
So, my next step is to call around to the local mechanic shops (there are a lot! I never realized!) and see what they would theoretically charge for labor if parts were hypothetically available for the Hondamatic engine. 
Funny thing is, I called the cool website that has a master engine rebuild kit and the guy (I think it's a one man show) actually answered the phone.  I wasn't expecting this.  I thought I would just leave a message and send an email.  But anyway, Ron answered the phone and told me that he did indeed have an engine rebuild kit for the Hondamatic.  It would be $511.97 and shipping would be $12.50.  It comes with the following:
Pistons,
wrist pins,
rings,
main and rod bearings,
thrust washers (if applicable),
jack shaft bearings (if applicable),
cam bearings (if applicable),
camshaft(s),
lifters (if applicable),
freeze plugs,
gasket set,
complete timing kit,
and oil pump.
Awesome right?  Ron also said that I would need to take the block apart first and inspect it before I ordered the kit so I could tell him the piston and rod and main bearing sizes, as he has standard, 10-20-30 or 40 over and there is no extra charge for the correct size I would need. 
So much for not being able to find parts.  Maybe I just need the engine kit, which is a master engine rebuild kit less: camshaft, lifters and timing set.  That's only $351.67
Just to check things out too, I placed a couple of inquiries on rebuilt Hondamatic engines.  I got a couple of quotes back and one was for $842 and another was for $991.  I got two more but they were over $1100.  The only thing is that they didn't specify whether shipping was included, free or exorbitant.  The sites seemed sketchy too even though they claimed to have warranties.  Maybe they're fine... I don't know.

It's Starting

As you can see, Collin and I took the air filter off.  Last night.  In the dusky-dusk.  We did a considerably good job even in the lack of light.  I took some masking tape and a sharpie and numbered and labeled the hoses and connections they belong to.  Why so late in the evening?  Well, that's just when we had the time for it.  We walked the dogs, I rode my bike around, we ate dinner, talked about our revised plan of action with the Hondamatic...

Right now, at this moment, we feel very overwhelmed with this project.  We still believe it can be done, but we need to take things one step at a time.  It's back to the original plan of taking the head off while it's still in the car and looking at what needs replacement on the top end.  We're almost positive the head gasket needs replacing, so that's already a given.  I then want to look as far into the engine as I can without lifting it out to see if there is anything I can do without getting into the cylinders and pistons.  My mom believes that the piston seals need replacing.  She may well be right, but I'm not sure I understand all of the minute specifications required to do an actual complete overhaul.

I found a great website  http://www.engineserviceinc.com/ with a lot of information.  They seem helpful and I have messaged for advice.

If all else fails, I may have a professional get in there and work some magic.  But I want to give it a shot first.

I found a gasket set for $108 and a gasket kit for $39 online.  I also found a master engine kit for $512 and an engine rebuild kit for $352.  But before I go buy any of these, I need to see what it is I have to work with first. 

More Exciting Stuff

This is the radio mounting kit I was talking about.  I can't wait to get it installed.  This requires, of course, getting the Hondamatic running to get it to CarToys to get a new stereo and they said they would put the mounting kit in for me as well.

Collin and I went hunting for some blocks or risers or a good jack at a couple of thrift stores.  We didn't find any of those things.  But what we did find was very exciting.  For $0.99 we got a oil filter puller-offer thingy!!  Along with my own oil pan, now I really can change my own oil.

It Rained Today

My intention to day was to bury my sorrows and numb my mind in the tedium of polishing the Hondamatic.
Wax on.  Wax off.  Wax on.  Wax off. And then there was solace. And peace. No thoughts, just focus on the task on hand. 

Yeah right.  I forgot that I lived in Seattle.  It was perfect out yesterday, but I was in no position to be working on anything (especially power equipmenrt i.e. electric polishers) that took me more than a foot away from my box of kleenex.  I was so sure that today would be as sunny as it was yesterday.

Nope, it's June 1st for crying out loud and it's still raining! I am really very sick and tired of being cold.  I would like to maybe not go out of the house with my wool jacket on.  Please?

I didn't get to polish the car.  But I cleaned my room and did some laundry and de-cluttered my closet.  You know, I got rid of all the clothes that I have never worn, never will wear (again), will never fit into again but thinking that I will, so I'll keep them around.  I was just sick of looking at them all.

But I digress...

I previewed the pertinent pages in the Chilton's manual and have determined that taking the engine apart is super easy.  Step by step a piece of cake.  Should take about an hour provided I have all the tools and can hoist the engine out.  But I am going to turn this into a three hour project just to label all the parts and bits and screws and hoses and their corresponding connection points and put the small pieces into labeled baggies.

Then comes the cleaning and machining and reinstallation of the new parts.  That may take a little longer.
Dad's advice to me was to consider the option of just buying a rebuilt engine and dropping it in since I'll likely be spending the same amount on mine to get it worked over and machined.

Oh, and I got my American International HRH-800 radio installation kit delivered today.  Yay!  Now I don't have to settle for the two inches of modern stereo that stick out of the original radio hole.  I just don't dig that look.