I can't decide on whether to put the engine/gearbox in right after I have mounted the floor (yep, I'm not even at that stage...). I'd like to do it a.s.a.p. just to get it off my chest, but I'm currently still trying to find some parts to be able to connect the two....

Are there any pro's/con's to putting the engine in when the whole suspension is already mounted, complete with brakelines etc.?

Miost of my build has been done with engine in. Ive found it helps when locating everything else. Obviously put the floor in first cos its damned heavy to turn over with the engine in.

That sounds really painful. It's easier to fit the stuff round the engine with it in than trying to predict where it's going to go before it's fitted. My engine was in and out like a fiddlers elbow before the final resting place was decided. Not an Indy but the principle must be similar.

[Edited on 12/5/04 by Peteff]

If you can I would "try" fit the engine and gearbox, mark where you want to run brake pipes/fuel lines/wiring and then remove it to do this work as it gives more room to work. Also if you have the chassis on a stand 3" off the ground to make life easy it is far easier to lower it to the ground without the weight of the engine.

I'm with zetec on this one,when my car was at rolling chassis stage i hung eng and box in to mark out space.
The empty engine bay made it much easier to fit the brake lines and master cylinder,i also pre drilled some holes for the cable tie holders so the loom was easier to fit.

Thanks for the responses. My mastercylinders are already in place, and I've lined up the brakelines temporarily according to pictures of other Indy's, so they should be o.k. (fingers crossed.
But I can safely assume that building it to rolling chassis stage can easily be done without the engine in.
That buys me some time to find a 1.8 flywheel and Zetec wiring-loom.....

Erm, sorry Marcel, but i put the engine in before even rivetting on the floor (trial fot of course) and i'm damn glad i did. With my car being left hand drive (as yours!) we had quite a lot of problems with parts fouling on the steering shaft. We found that we could get away with most problems, but it certainly took some tinkering.

For those wondering: on a Pinto, both fuel pump and oil filter are the main offenders.

Also take care about the length of your propshaft! this will define the longitudinal position of the engine if you buy an off the shelf item. If not, just put the engine as ar back as possible (see Siert vos's website for details)

Regards,
Sebastiaan

ps. is het niet lollig om dingen op een forum te typen die 99% niet kan lezen

Wir konnen mehr als Sie wissen lesen.
Nous comprennons plus que vous pensez.
What does lollig mean? I would guess it means stupid or funny, am I close?.

[Edited on 13/5/04 by Peteff]

Lollig means Funny, Pete.

Those dictionaries must come in handy

Locostbuilders seems to be getting more and more mondial by the day! (spain, portugal, holland, germany, UK and more!)

i bought my kit at rolling chassis stage second hand

put the engine in soon after

but even then founf it difficult to fit brake pipe and m/c with engine in the way

might be better to locate engine near start of build and then take it back out

just a thought

I'm mounting a Zetec, where the oil filter is on the other side. And I've got my propshaft already, so the position of the engine is more or less defined.

The thing is, I've got lots of engine/gearbox issues to solve before I can put them in the car. But I would like to go ahead with my build in the meantime, which is why I'm asking.

And Sebastiaan; throw me some pictures of your MK!

Just wondering on the fuel pump...mine is at the back with the fueltank. But as you say the oilfilter is a bugger. Iīll place my a bit away from itīs original place.


/Jonas

Currently in Guangzhou - China

quote:

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Originally posted by sebastiaan
With my car being left hand drive (as yours!) we had quite a lot of problems with parts fouling on the steering shaft. We found that we could get away with most problems, but it certainly took some tinkering.

For those wondering: on a Pinto, both fuel pump and oil filter are the main offenders.


Regards,
Sebastiaan

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