The problem with old cars is that - not just the engine wears out. This was typical. The gloplug ECU live wire connector and terminal was badly rusted and snapped when disturbed. No repair proved possible, had to get a new unit, and rebuild the multiplug. New terminals are caked in vaseline. 
Very grateful to a Forum Member who gave me a 1.9 bottom end. He'd kept it in a garden shed. It was from Fiat training in Slough. I rang them up. Once they let me explain this was a 25 year old design and there was no need to call the cops, they said it should be ok and may not have been used.
Torque checked on every bolt, there were surprising variations and I changed all the gaskets. More care this time, no bolts overtightened or turned the wrong way. Cleanliness maintained, plus regular hoovering of passageways.
Alot of time was cleaning, this gearbox was filthy when it came out.
Constructed an engine trolley to wheel out the engine from under the car. Completely useless.
Now for the disasters. Radiator terminally damaged by fuel pump as the engine came out.
The big one...when learning how to use a spanner last year I must have mixed up camshaft caps. Tightening them down to the correct torque this time resulted in a stiff cam. The timing went to pieces as I cranked the car. :bang: I don't want talk about the bill, even making 1 x good head out of 3 plus a wasted head gasket.
Having refitted all the wires in the correct places the damn thing wouldnt start or fuel and I had to call a sparky. In fairness the wiring in the ignition area has been 'amended' at some time with various odd colours and a crappy retrofit immobiliser/alarm system which, although not active, was causing trouble.
Raining again
Worst teething trouble, a leaking 2/nd hand oil cooler (my last engine was missing a cooler) It took the weight of the car to get the hoses off it, which took the cooler thread with them.
Despite my efforts to clean them up, they bggered the thread on my new cooler. This had to be repaired and what I tried to avoid all along...2 new gold plated pipes from Fiat. :worship:
Oil pressure! So this gauge wasn't broken, just my old engine was knackered.....
Starts much better than the old engine, a bit slower, but less turbo lag. Worst thing: sump on/off. Best thing: Summer nights: no need to rush. Best friend: a hoist off Ebay.
Very grateful to a Forum Member who gave me a 1.9 bottom end. He'd kept it in a garden shed. It was from Fiat training in Slough. I rang them up. Once they let me explain this was a 25 year old design and there was no need to call the cops, they said it should be ok and may not have been used.
Torque checked on every bolt, there were surprising variations and I changed all the gaskets. More care this time, no bolts overtightened or turned the wrong way. Cleanliness maintained, plus regular hoovering of passageways.
Alot of time was cleaning, this gearbox was filthy when it came out.
Constructed an engine trolley to wheel out the engine from under the car. Completely useless.
Now for the disasters. Radiator terminally damaged by fuel pump as the engine came out.
The big one...when learning how to use a spanner last year I must have mixed up camshaft caps. Tightening them down to the correct torque this time resulted in a stiff cam. The timing went to pieces as I cranked the car. :bang: I don't want talk about the bill, even making 1 x good head out of 3
plus a wasted head gasket. Having refitted all the wires in the correct places the damn thing wouldnt start or fuel and I had to call a sparky. In fairness the wiring in the ignition area has been 'amended' at some time with various odd colours and a crappy retrofit immobiliser/alarm system which, although not active, was causing trouble.
Raining again
Worst teething trouble, a leaking 2/nd hand oil cooler (my last engine was missing a cooler) It took the weight of the car to get the hoses off it, which took the cooler thread with them.
Despite my efforts to clean them up, they b
ggered the thread on my new cooler. This had to be repaired and what I tried to avoid all along...2 new gold plated pipes from Fiat. :worship: Oil pressure! So this gauge wasn't broken, just my old engine was knackered.....
Starts much better than the old engine, a bit slower, but less turbo lag. Worst thing: sump on/off. Best thing: Summer nights: no need to rush. Best friend: a hoist off Ebay.
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