Hi Kevlo911, all the remaining chrome stuff is ready to pick-up at the shop, ( alternator, starter, brackets etc ) I have yet to see if the engine mount are ready, I'm going to stop at the welding shop tomorrow morning, I really hope they are done since I want to install the engine & tranny this month so I can fire her up in feb and start to work on all the kinks and things that might not work properly asap. I know it's going to be a heck of a challenge for a guy alone, but I'm confident that one day or another I'll drive the car, when ? is another story, but with the forum help I'm sure I'm in good hand. I'll keep you posted with pics and details shortly.

P.S: The return to reality is tough this morning, specially with the cold and snow but hey that is nothing to compare with the poverty I saw in Jamaica. I left all my remaining money, few pair of shoes, clothing etc, hoping this could help a bit. I cant believe how fortunate & lucky we are all in north america, this has hit me right in da heart, so now on, I'm going to try to help as much people I can for the remaining of my life.

Cheers

AA

 

Thats great to hear AA,

If only everyone did that the world could be a better place. Especially in this time where so much has happened in Haiti.

Glad to hear the project is still pumping and thanks for making all of us jealous with the beautiful weather and sun!

Ti

 

Hey Tibal, I just wanted to share the beauty of this country with all of you guys, it is the first time I traveled to Jamaica, but none the less I feel very very fortunate to enjoy so much in my life. What I left up there is nothing, so I dont need to get any reward for that, this is the less I could do, really. I hope this is just the beginning.

If we could all tie together there would be no more kids starving, no more confusion, wars and such, this would affect our lives in such a positive way.

The Jamaican are lovely peoples who cares about each other, they could give the world a humility lesson, even though they are poor in materials they are so rich inside, and this something that money cant buy. A few family members are " en route " to Haiti and will help them as much as they can. This is a terrible tragedy and I almost feel guilty of living the life I have... spending all that money on my car and such. You know what ! this is a wake up call for me, now on I'm going to spend some of my time convincing as much people as I can ( I mean wealthy & business people ) to be generous and make donation a priority in their life.

 

Very powerful words for someone who has experienced it first hand. It is so true, us here in America are so materialistic that we don't see the finer things in life, families, friends, life itself as importantly as we should. We are in fact all fortunate and i am sure you have many memories from your trip, positive as well as the saddened ones that will stay with u and have change ur view of ur own life!!

I hope that soon i will be able to make such a trip and experience something like this first hand. Very kind of you leaving some of you belongings behind. Probably made many peoples days better.

Great story and i feel as well as speaking for some of us one here, our spending money could be split a little more to benefit others!

Very well put AA

 

One thing I should have also said is the good time we had up there, I mean because of their generosity, their smile, their dedication to make us feel good is remarquable.
Everything was super great, this has to be the best trip of my life. The last thing I would say is they are so beautiful and proud.

Thanks to the moderators, to have not rejected my post but let me share this experience. I will not abuse of this liberty.

Thank you.

AA

 

Back to topic, I will be picking up the engine mount this afternoon, what the shop did is weld a new sleeve inside the engine mount so now the ES motor mount bushing will fit tight in there. I just need to decide if I paint those or have it chrome process. Painting would be faster but I think there is a possibility of chipping the paint while pressing the bushing in, so I might have it chromed process for durability, but that alone will add another 2 weeks of waiting before we can proceed with the engine & tranny install. While on the road this pm I'm going to pick-up the alternator and starter as well wich have been chromed and polished, I cant wait to see how they look like, I will hopefully post some pics later today.

 

I actually went strait to the shop 30 minutes ago and got the starter with the alternator, they did a really ncie job.

Pics to come during lunch time.

 

Pics taken with my iPhone, here you go:

 

looking beautiful as always AA

 

when i saw the chrome starter i drooled a bit..

 

Nice job double a.

when is the motor gonna drop in?

 

Hey man, what's up ? How is it in Ravena NY ?

This morning I'm taking the engine mount to the chrome shop, after the removal of the stock bushing & welding of the new bushing ring, the paint was destroyed. i'll post some pics after I'm back from the shop.

I dont feel like spending another week-end to paint them again, the over all cost is almost identical and I can recover that time for the home renovation. The engine mount should be ready within 10 days maybe less. it's all depend on how busy they are, but hey I should be set within the next hour. This is the last part that prevented me from dropping the engine & A/T, best guess is 1st week-end of february. I'm getting anxious since there is a bunch of small thing I need to do before I drop the engine. I'm going to work as much as I can every week-day evening and see where it get me.

 

Engine mount pics before getting chromed.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0169.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0170.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0171.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0172.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0173.jpg

 

Fedex delivered this yesterday. Any clue ?





Not quite ! but just to see what it's going to look alike. Lol

I think i have pretty much figure out how we will put this exhaust together.

I want to start with a 3" pipe from the Y-pipe ( with welded flange ) to the 3" cat to the 3" resonator then split to dual 2.25" or 2.5" piping to each muffler. I still have to figure out other thing that is in the exhaust path, but that is another story.

 

I would split into 2.25in pipes

 

The Cattman rear section I have is 2.5" so just having to do one side will save me a lot of time I would only have to do the left exhaust piping. At this stage I'm purely speculating since I'm not even sure if I'll be able to re-use the Cattman rear section. I hope I can just put back the cattman right muffler with the section that goes over the beam, then cut the rest so I can go 3". I'm going to have a closer look at this over the coming week-end.

 

I'll be picking up the engine mount tomorrow morning, cant wait to see... I might actually install the engine & tranny over the week-end if I can get at least 2 friends to come over and help otherwise it will have to wait another week, as my buddy doesn't work next week-end. Time has never felt so long.

I'll post some pics tomorrow.

AA

 

Enjoy the pics, as usual the work is awesome,only one negative note is the shop might have lost my ES bushing. When I pick up the engine mount this am, the woman at the counter told me I never left the bushing, but because they are a bunch of very nice people, I didn't want to start an argument and politely said that I will check in my garage. I'm 100% sure that I left the ES there, anyway I'm going back tomorrow morning and will let them know that I really left the bushing as they where supposed to press them in.

 

If I can get the ES bushing back tomorrow... I technically can drop the engine sunday. I need to attach the A/T to the engine but with my buddy, that will be easier. I have to take care of many things before I can drop the engine sunday, but I believe I can do it all tomorrow. Worst case scenario is I have to order a new set of ES bushing, then the drop time is re-schedule for next week-end, wich ultimately is not bad also since it give me the week to clear all the crapola.

 

Got a call from the shop at 3:00 pm today and they found the bushing. I'm going to pick them up tomorrow morning. The count down has started, the installation is sheduele for saturday feb the 20th. This afternoon I ordered the last Russel hoses & fitting I was missing, it should arrive thursday. I'm trying to finish as much as I can this week so next saturday we can drop early in the morning and start to hook-up the wiring and vacuum, batterie cable. I also have a broken bolt that need to be extract on the engine block. That about it for now.

Cheers

AA

 

Nice, good luck with the final stretch.

 

This morning I'm trying to have the ES bushing insert without leaving the mount, i want someone to do it right away, I'm a little scared to leave it to anyone.

 

Just take it to a shop with a hydraulic press. It should not take more than 5min. Many small repair shops should have them, including machine shops.

 

Hey Kevlo, how's the project going ? I just took them to my friend shop, he was on a big job but will do it today or later this week. I only need them back for friday since I want to drop the engine next saturday. He's the one who welded the ring inside the engine mount, he's one of the few I trust.

 

My buddy has just called to say he cant come to help this morning, he's got some kind of flu. I know I can drop the engine alone but I'm scared to scratch the chrome cover or the engine bay paint, so I might just hook the A/T to the engine today and drop it later. I'm getting impatient to finish the beast but oh well I have to take it one day at a time. I still have many thing to works on so I'm going to focuss on this until I have a few extra pair of hand to help me.

 

I just started following your thread, I was trying to read your this whole thread but it got to be too much after page 50000 lol j.k. but yeah im glad to see your patience is paying off.

I'm doing a small overhaul (although anything compared to your project seems minuscule haha). What kinda cams did you end up going with? im trying to decide which ones i want, i cant seem to find anything under $1200.

 

Good lock with your build, mine is geeting oldish so to speak... Even though I was not able to drop the engine yesterday as it was planned, I'm fixing all the kinks, I spend the day finishing the undercoating of the car, fix a few rust spot undeneath, installed 2 new parking brake cable, finish the rear brake assembly, I also pulled a broken bolt on the engine block so I was able to put the drain back plate. I will post some new pics later tonight.

Cheers

AA

 

so many builds finishing up im getting ansy to see whose done first, you or the Rb swap.
excited for pics tonight.

 

Here is few links to the pics, the dual exhaust set-up on the 2k1. Because the car is about 2 feet in front of the garage door I couldn't take a global pics showing both side. I will take some shot with the garage door open next week-end.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0234.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0236.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0237.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_0239.jpg

 

Looking good. Make sure you get some good hangers so it doesn't rattle

 

Lookin verrrryyy good AA!

 

Trust me the exhaust set-up is going to be tight, my friend Nick is going to come over and help me custom fabricate the rear section in place, then tig weld it back at his shop.

I'm leaving now to pick up the engine mount at Nick's shop. I'll show you the final result in about an hour.

Stay tune...

 

I finally have not picked up the mount, while I was about to leave the house when some friends came over, so I didn't end -up picking the mount, I will do later today and pics will be posted later.

 

Bling bling:


The original exhaust heat shield cleaned with engine cleaner, now it's like new.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1309.jpg

Engine mount installed:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1289.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1290.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1291.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1292.jpg

Engine pics:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1294.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1295.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1296.jpg

Chromed cover, it's yours for 50$.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1297.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1298.jpg

IC passage:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1299.jpg

Suspension:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1300.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1301.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1305.jpg

Brakes:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1304.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1306.jpg

Exhaust
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1302.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1303.jpg

 

Yesterday I spoke with my friend and he's available this saturday, so we will start the engine & A/T installation. We have to mate the A/T with the engine, install the flywheel and Torq converter. I'm missing one of the engine mount bolts so I'm going to stop at the local Nissan dealer and order one I hope they can get it in time for saturday otherwise I'll put a temporary bolt. I also have to fill each side of the rack & pinion with grease and tie the dust boot, can I put any automotive grease ? I'll keep you all posted with pics of the installation this coming saturday.

 

Simply beautiful my friend. Looking gooooooood.

You might have better luck at a junkyard since the dealer wont have the bolt in stock

 

I ordered the bolt and will get it monday, in the meantime I'll use a dummy bolt to keep everything in place until next monday.

 

Hey guys, my friend and I have started at 8:00 am this morning to work on engine bay prep. We have finished the car undercoating, we had to seal all the treads on the brake line, rack & pignon, abs actuator etc. We just need to tie the R & P dust boot and we're pretty much done with engine bay. We should start to bolt the A/T to the engine around 1:30 -2:00 pm and drop it in the car shortly after. I'll have some fresh pics later once we are done. Everything is going very well so I hope that's the path for the remaining of the day.

 

We finally couldn't drop the engine, the 4 x 10mm bolts that hold the torque converter on the fly wheel where missing, could find the damn bolts grrrr... The good news is we have fix all the kinks and such so everything that was on the list is done. I'll see if I can get the 10 mm bolts locally tomorrow morning otherwise, I'll have to order it monday from the dealer. So close....

I took few pics.


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1317.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1316.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1318.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1315.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1314.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1313.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1312.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89...a/IMG_1310.jpg

 

I hate to tell you this but you installed the front motor mount backwards. This also means the rear mount insert is pressed in the wrong way.