annieneff
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2011
- Location
- Seattle
- TDI
- 1983.5 Westfalia tdi (afn), with flipped 5 speed V6 (dvz) transmission
I've been working on this off and on for the last three months or so. I keep getting sidetracked with this that or the other. I made my "engine stand" with the left over framing from the garage doors you see in one picture. I've been a little shy and embarrassed about my free motor hanger, but after using it I can't imagine anything better.
The top bar looks a little weak in the photos, but it's actually two 2X4's with a steel bar sandwiched between them. I could probably hang the van itself from it.
The big first hurdle has been to make the turbo and the engine mount play nice and stay out of each others way on the manifold side (the low side) of the block. I have 3 different exhaust manifolds and an adapter plate for the where the turbo attaches, and after trying the infinite (...not infinite, but it felt that way) possible combinations I finally found one that worked. It still took a few modifications (shaving part of the identifier plate off the turbo, and having an arch cut out and welded to the bottom side of the motor mount to let the intake hose reach the turbo...), but it now 100% works .
The motor hanger made it literally infinitely easier, and it might not have been possible without it. I raised the engine up to chest height with the come-a-long you see hanging in one pic. I can just fit the hooks of the come along into the eyeholes of the motor grab holes, and then raise up and down-- if slowly-- at will. That made it so I could change and interchange at will; mercifully without hanging over and in that miserable dark engine bay and trying to work upside down.
After I successfully (a two month-- off and on-- effort!) got the turbo and motor mount to work together, I then geeked out and cleaned the bejesus out of the block. I even used Q tips in the end. It is by far the cleanest engine I've ever owned now. One side of it anyway .
Anyway. Had to share. Enjoy the pics. I'll try to update as I go along.
Happy new year!!!
Andrew
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The top bar looks a little weak in the photos, but it's actually two 2X4's with a steel bar sandwiched between them. I could probably hang the van itself from it.
The big first hurdle has been to make the turbo and the engine mount play nice and stay out of each others way on the manifold side (the low side) of the block. I have 3 different exhaust manifolds and an adapter plate for the where the turbo attaches, and after trying the infinite (...not infinite, but it felt that way) possible combinations I finally found one that worked. It still took a few modifications (shaving part of the identifier plate off the turbo, and having an arch cut out and welded to the bottom side of the motor mount to let the intake hose reach the turbo...), but it now 100% works .
The motor hanger made it literally infinitely easier, and it might not have been possible without it. I raised the engine up to chest height with the come-a-long you see hanging in one pic. I can just fit the hooks of the come along into the eyeholes of the motor grab holes, and then raise up and down-- if slowly-- at will. That made it so I could change and interchange at will; mercifully without hanging over and in that miserable dark engine bay and trying to work upside down.
After I successfully (a two month-- off and on-- effort!) got the turbo and motor mount to work together, I then geeked out and cleaned the bejesus out of the block. I even used Q tips in the end. It is by far the cleanest engine I've ever owned now. One side of it anyway .
Anyway. Had to share. Enjoy the pics. I'll try to update as I go along.
Happy new year!!!
Andrew
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