Edit... Resto mod FIRST DRIVE

[So Cal Mark]

that's pretty nice, is it cast?

[SoFlaFiat]

Wow Mark! That's the best possible compliment!
It is fiberglass meant to look like cast aluminum, or did you mean cast fiberglass? I glued up some foam on top of the carbs and laid up the fiberglass over that, then removed the foam. The embossed bit was molded in gel coat over an FI intake and applied over the fiberglass.

OR, were you just being a sarcastic one like me?

[SoFlaFiat]

Early on in this extensive diatribe my rack and pinion steering was of interest and I stated at the time that, since I am flying by the seat of my pants, I would post more about it once I had the car on the road. So, it seems to work great with some minimal road time. On the other hand, the layout turns out to be a serious issue with other maintenance. As I messed up my rings and went to pull the motor today, I figured out that the steering rack, bolted to plates which are welded to the cross member, is in the way of the flywheel and therefore blocking the separation from the transmission. Therefore, the only way to pull the motor is to take it out the bottom with the trans, steering rack and cross member attached, same as it went in.
Not in the mood to disassemble the whole front suspension again, I am in the middle of attempting to clean the cylinder bores and swap new rings in, with the motor half in the car. GOOD TIMES!!!

[So Cal Mark]

I thought it was aluminum

[DieselSpider]

Have the same blocking issue with the Diesel and the center link of the stock steering system. The center link has to be dropped in order to pull the longer Diesel engine.

[vandor]

> attempting to clean the cylinder bores

Hone them again with engine oil. I can lend you the hone.
Then wash/scrub with soapy water each cylinder 3-4 times. You don't want to do it again, so be sure to do it right.

[SoFlaFiat]

It turns out that it is true... Where there is a will, there is a way!!
I managed to unbolt my steering rack and push it forward enough to get the engine out.



It will be much easier to do it on a stand!

Csaba, I would very much appreciate the loan! Thank you!! I'll email...

[toplessexpat]

I seem to recall watching Csaba do that job on a coupe with the engine still in.....

[SoFlaFiat]

I suspect you are the only member here who knows us both personally, so YOU of all people know that the Hungarian is much better at this stuff than I!!

[toplessexpat]

He's Hungarian?

[RRoller123]

I thought he was a Texan?

[SoFlaFiat]

At least half Texan by now!

[toplessexpat]

..... but which half?

[SoFlaFiat]

Certainly not the half which controls the accent!!

[toplessexpat]

He sounds different to me. He MUST be Texan.