Week 13 - Time for a rest!

I've dismantled the Fiesta about as much as I'm going to for the moment.. I've got all the big bits out and a number of bits are at Tim's for preinstallation or modification for the kit. The only bits of interest on the bodyshell are the pedals, wiring loom and braking system. I dont really want to distub them at the moment until I'm ready to transfer them to the hull.
It's just a question of waithing for the kit to be ready them I'm off to collect it and make a start on putting it together!

There has been some terrible flooding round here recently and it would have been great to have been able to use the finished article to help where needed.

Week 12 - The fuel tank

Todays job was to remove the fuel tank. That'll be going in the boat! I need to get all the fuel feed and filler/vent pipes out as well. Unfortunately the tank is half full of fuel, so I need to be extra careful I don't turn myself into a human torch.

First job is to get the handbrake cables disconnected from the underfloor. Mr A Grinder made light work of the bracket. The filler pipe assembly came off after removing a couple of screws and hose clips.
Three bolts hold the straps holding the tank up then its just needs lowering to the ground disconnecting the electrical connection at the top of the tank half way through.

Et voila...

Probably ought to drain the fuel out next.

Week 11.5 Even More Cambelt

How can I make changing a cambelt so difficult especially with the engine sat on her new dolly in the workshop.

What you need is the proper tools. So this is what I've got. From the top the flywheel locking thing that bolts through the starter motor opening, below that the camshaft locking bar that slots into the far end of the shafts, then the pin that is used to position the crankshaft and the tool that locks into the variable cam timing stuff.

Here you can see the locking tool in place.

The procedure is well described in a number of YouTube videos so you don't need me to tell you!

The mistake I made was to think the crankshaft pulley was keyed onto the shaft 'cos it isn't. Very disappointing.So when I was turning the crankshaft via the flywheel to align the cam with the tool the pulley just spun on the shaft. There was some minor contact between piston and valve bit hopefully not too much. We'll see later!

New belt installed with a new water pump and the engine turns freely. Just need to put all the covers  and a new auxillary belt back on and thats the engine sorted out.

Freeing up the wiring loom next.