[Shellback]

Utter frustration...

Well, I wish it was going as good as other swaps. Right now I’m just frustrated and need to walk away from this project for a few days to calm down. I’m stuck with an S52 crooked in the engine bay. It will not budge. It is literally stuck and I can’t place it on its correct location. To make it worse, I need to pull it out again because I broke some items while trying to install it. Here’s what happened:

- I thought the S52 was going to be as easy as removing the M44. I was wrong!
- I got the engine bay nice and clean, wrapped the P/S bracket with some nice ¼ ID hose to protect it. I even applied some heat shield on the firewall since the original lagging type was all deteriorated.
- So far all is going well. I replaced the heater hoses on the heater valve located on the Driver’s side firewall. However, I noticed I should’ve installed the heater valve hose on the engine first and then once the engine would be installed, hook up the heater hose on the heater side last. Anyway, too late. See below...
- I scratched the hell out of my paint on the passenger side strut tower. I also scratched the hell out of the actual valve cover due to I didn’t remove the coil plug bracket. So I cut the bracket with a sawz all, but it looks like crap now.
- As I tried to continue installing engine, I bent the P/S bracket that I had meticulously wrapped with hose. Out comes the sawz all again... Finished product on this sawz all rush job is a razor sharp edge that would put my Wüsthof bread knife to shame.
- Of course, it gets better. I should’ve quit but instead I figured I do the sheet metal work later once the engine was in. I figure I can just mask it really good...As I tried to avoid the steering column, I didn’t notice I kept messing up the cowling lip – which sits right below the plastic cowlings below the wind shield.
- So I finally got the oil pan over the steering column aluminum part J!m warned us to be careful with. I was able to get the Driver’s side engine mount arm on the engine mount. The passenger side was not installed on the engine as recommended by other posts.
- Then I notice the two plastic tubes that hold the heater hoses and exposed, so somehow, all that moving around must’ve loosened the hoses off. Strange, because I remember I had nice new tight OEM hoses with the really good OEM radiator hose clamps. Well, you guessed it – I tore the firkin hoses off, along with the actual threaded part. Basically, I need a new connector, and somehow try to salvage the new hoses with plastic connector still inside...
- I decide my next move is to get the engine out. This has gone long enough and I’m rushing it so I need to start all over again patiently. I also want to grind the brackets I hacked off previously and finish them off properly with primer/paint; replace the heater valve connector I destroyed; and whatever else destruction I caused.
- But now the engine is stuck. It is crooked. I think the driver’s side is ok, but the passenger side is where I’m stuck. Again, I have no engine mount on that side installed yet. I also notice the area around the valve cover is wedged pretty bad on the passenger side firewall. I tried lifting the bell housing with a floor jack to try and wedge her free, but no luck.
- You are going to kill me when I tell you this next part, but I really overlooked this important part from J!m’s manual. I removed the S52 from the donor engine, along with the M44 from the ti with only an engine hoist. I did not use an engine leveler. I figure if the S52 came out of the M3 sedan with no issues, and the M44 came out the same, I didn’t need an engine leveler. Also, my connection points for the engine hoist are the front pad eye on the S52, but I’m wrapping the chain around the bell housing. There is a connection part between the bell housing and block, but I do not have any type of attachment/clasp to hook up to it. And, once the engine is in its place, how would I remove that connection? The chain around the bell housing method worked to remove the S52 and M44.
- Ok, so maybe the issue is that I need an engine leveler to INSTALL and engine...I tried several common auto part retailers and no luck. I found a Harbor Freight and figured I’d visit it since I’ve never been to one before. I was surprised with the quality of the junk I witnessed in there! I mean, the items on the website look nice, but this store was scary! A Big Lots store looks more like a Saks compared to this dump. Anyway, I pick up a $40 engine leveler and made sure my life insurance was up to date prior to using it.
- I try the leveler at the scene of the crime. After opening up the really cheesy box, I noticed the handle is missing. I figure its no big deal....
- I greased up all moving parts on the leveler with white lithium because once there was weight applied, the leveler is hard as hell to turn, not to mention tearing my hands up because it’s missing the turning knob. Late note here...my wife says I need stitches...anyway...
- Well, the engine still sits in its non-intended position. Several thoughts have raced through my mind, aside from torching the ****er! Maybe I should’ve lowered the front suspension and engine and remove it from the bottom. But I’m not sure how that would come out, especially now, with an engine sticking out the way it is now.
- Right now my objective is to get the S52 out and fix/replace the damage.
- Then, I’m seriously thinking on getting the TI on a flat bead and getting it up to San Antonio or Austin, which I hear have shops that are swap knowledgeable.
- A bit more background...the car is in a shop on a military base, so I can only work on it sporadically. Unfortunately I really get no support from the employees there. They are nice folks but they know nothing about a project like this. One kept telling me I was mistaken and the engine I was trying to install will never fit....
- Anyway, I know it’s a long story but I as you can tell this has been a bit therapeutic.
- Ummm, what else....Anyone near South Texas want to give me a hand?
- Forgot to mention....the front nose, a/c, cooling is all removed off the front.