Aries Wagon Progress

[Captain Chaos]

The early TBI common blocks do not have cross drills. I think the 91-95 do, for sure the 89 TBI CB does not.

Sounds reasonable, it's a 6/13/90 casting date.

[Captain Chaos]

Started the disassembly after work last night but they closed the shop down at 7 so I only got a little while to work on it. Mostly got the engine harness out and the v/c off of it.

[Captain Chaos]

I need to find a 5 speed k frame and control arms for my "rust free" car.

[Vigo]

eh, nothing is completely rust free. Even my central texas car has a hole in the floor near the e-brake cable.

But the k-frames NEVER rust here.

[Captain Chaos]

eh, nothing is completely rust free. Even my central texas car has a hole in the floor near the e-brake cable.

But the k-frames NEVER rust here.

My Horizon floors were perfect. Hell even my GLHS that was sold new in Alaska, had a Colroado tag on it when I picked it up in Tx is rust free, lol. Problem is in our conversation about the car he told me it was rust free before I drove 5 hours to pick it up. Shame on me for not crawling under it. Nothing thats bad, just more work than expected. Everytime I walk by it I get more excited about getting it running so its all good.

[Captain Chaos]

Pulled the lower radiator hose to drain the coolant. About a gallon came out of the hose and water pump. A bunch came out with the oil when I pulled the drain plug. Wonder if it over heated and hydrolocked. Head and maybe the short block will come out tomorrow.

[Vigo]

Cool.. take some pics of whatever you're putting back in

[Captain Chaos]

Cool.. take some pics of whatever you're putting back in

Will do the district manager for service is here so I may not be able to pull the engine today. Here's the short block. I also have a 2 pc intake and Super 60 turbo topping it off.

[Captain Chaos]

Pulled the lower radiator hose to drain the coolant. About a gallon came out of the hose and water pump. A bunch came out with the oil when I pulled the drain plug. Wonder if it over heated and hydrolocked. Head and maybe the short block will come out tomorrow.

Well I got the engine and transmission out today at work, I found the coolant leak into the oil pan:

[Captain Chaos]

More surprises were in store today. I went up to work to put the new engine and transmission back in the car and found that apparently the crank in the original engine is broken. I haven't pulled the short block apart but when I was spinning the torque converter around to get the bolts out, the pistons weren't moving. Anyway I got the engine transmission joined back together and in the car and all three mounts secured. Also cleaned the 21 years of grime off of the engine compartment:

[Captain Chaos]

Stationwagonforums.com for all you wagon freaks. They have an awesome picture gallery.

[DBB mini]

Nice project! I love the sleepers.

[Captain Chaos]

Nice project! I love the sleepers.

THANKS! I hope to be flying like you soon.

[Captain Chaos]

Pulled the pan this evening and found the #3 rod bolts were broken and the rod bent up against the oil pump and block.

[Daytona22]

Sean,
Keep up the great work! Are you going to get a new crank for the new motor your dropping in? Take your time now with the motor and accessories out to clean the engine bay. Its kind of a pain but it makes it SO much nicer to work on in the future. I see you already did that and it looks like you've made some great progress. It's also awesome that your boss will let you work on a personal vehicle in the shop, my previous job let me do that. Now that its gone, I see how valuable it is.

[Captain Chaos]

Sean,
Keep up the great work! Are you going to get a new crank for the new motor your dropping in? Take your time now with the motor and accessories out to clean the engine bay. Its kind of a pain but it makes it SO much nicer to work on in the future. I see you already did that and it looks like you've made some great progress. It's also awesome that your boss will let you work on a personal vehicle in the shop, my previous job let me do that. Now that its gone, I see how valuable it is.

New motors already in. .030 2.5 with new Mahles , final bore and hone with a torque plate. The crank just needed a polish. Rods resized and ARP rod bolts and head studs. And yes I hate working on dirty engines thats why I clean everything while its easily accessible.

[Vigo]

The broken crank was on the tbi. It was worded confusingly.

[Captain Chaos]

The broken crank was on the tbi. It was worded confusingly.

OOPS, yeah thats pretty bad, fixed.

[Captain Chaos]

Engine harness will be here Tuesday. Going to pull the down pipe from The Shadow and pick up the head/manifold assembly tomorrow and get it ready to drop on the short block. With my limited free time I hope to have it running by Thanksgiving.

[signsoflife22]

I think you should GO NUTS with it. HYBRID the HECK out of it and maybe Twin turbo custom set up? AWD? ALL kinds of CRAZY stuff man. Just FREAK OUT and go ballistic!!!(lol)
Good Luck with it. It looks like a nice platform to start with.