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[JamesV6CDX]

I've had this project sat on my drive for six months now and haven't really done anything with it, but now the lighter evenings are coming, I'm going to be dusting it off, and getting it done this spring

In a nutshell, it is a very, very tidy black Saloon CDX, starting life as a 2.6:









Unfortunately, the 2.6 engine lunched itself, seemingly due to oil starvation. I still haven't got to the bottom of why this happened. But what better excuse to put another 600cc under the bonnet?

The old 2.6 engine, I removed a few weeks ago, like so:





Because I'm putting in a 3.2, the AR25 auto box on the 2.6 is going to have to be binned, as the 3.2 will destroy it.

I have decided that, on the 3.2, I am going to do the most thorough job possible on it. Every gasket and seal will be changed, including the front and rear crank seals. It's also going to be cleaned so that it's absolutely squeaky clean. The only things I am not touching is crank/pistons/rings - as it's a low mileage engine and they just don't fail. I am going to rebuild the heads, though, lapping in all the valves, and fitting new stem seals.

(That reminds me, I need to source a 2-4-6 head, as we used the one off this project to get BigTime on the road) - I think I have a suitable one on my 3.0 V plate - but not sure where I've put the camshaft shells 

I have absolutely loads of new genuine parts for it. This includes oil cooler, Cambelt kit, HBV, aux belt.... basically, you name it, it's being replaced

I have dropped in the 3.2 lump, but at the moment, it looks a bit like this!



As you can see - much cleaning required!

When I dropped this in it had the heads, Cambelt etc fitted, however having removed the 2-4-6 head to help another member, on Friday evening I stripped the rest of it, so it's ready to be cleaned.

I dropped it in without the gearbox, just because I haven't yet got an AR35 to fit on there. I'm undecided at this time as to whether I use the AR35 off my old Elite, or to source another. The one from the Elite is fine - when I first fitted it to the Elite, it had a bit of a jerky change into top gear at high revs - this disappeared over time so I put it down to the solenoid, rather than a mechanical issue... 

But then I have also been toying with the idea of manualising it!! A black, manual 3.2? 

I do generally prefer the V6 as an auto, though...

Anyway - watch this space. I'll be using this thread to update with progress. I will basically just be doing a little bit at a time, at my enjoyment.... certainly not a rush job...

I may also LPG it when it's running

[Shackeng]

A nice looking car James for a worthwhile project.

[Nick W]

Looks good, but I'm often puzzled why people fit half engines like that, and fit them up once in the car - it seems like really hard work to me.
It's much easier to build the engine as far as possible on the stand(or bench, or even the floor if absolutely necesary) and then crane the whole lot into the car, including the gearbox where possible. I've fitted engines complete right down to the fanbelt, which just left wiring it up and bolting on the air filter.

[JamesV6CDX]

Looks good, but I'm often puzzled why people fit half engines like that, and fit them up once in the car - it seems like really hard work to me.
It's much easier to build the engine as far as possible on the stand(or bench, or even the floor if absolutely necesary) and then crane the whole lot into the car, including the gearbox where possible. I've fitted engines complete right down to the fanbelt, which just left wiring it up and bolting on the air filter.

I totally agree, and would have loved to have done it that way...

However the logistics for me, is that I only have a single garage, and due to space needed on the drive, the car is half in the garage, with the front out in the open air for me to work on.

I was also using a borrowed engine crane, which I only had for a limited amount of time, and, because the car was already half in - half out of the garage at the time I took delivery of the new engine... It would have meant storing the new engine outside in the elements and, although we live in a reasonable area - potentially accessible to thieves.

So, I take on board your point - but, the reality was, I have to work with the facilities I have, and had to do the heavy lifting work while I had the crane available to me...

[Nick W]

Garage? What luxury, I do all my stuff in the street!


The last engine I did, the 1275 A-series in Deb's 1300, was assembled on the back court and fitted to its gearbox.


We then carried the assembly through the house, and up the cellar steps. I bolted on the manifold and carb, alternator, engine mounts, radiator etc, while Richard assembled the crane and jacked the car up so that the crane would go underneath. Another 20 minutes saw the engine swung into place, bolted down,the driveshafts refitted and the bonnet bolted back on. That lot was enough for one evening, as I don't get home until 20:30, so we went for a beer.

[Shackeng]

Good plan, and fairly simple to carry a 3.2 + gearbox.

[kevinp58]

Good plan, and fairly simple to carry a 3.2 + gearbox.

If you have the free use of an elephant 

[Varche]

Garage? What luxury, I do all my stuff in the street!


The last engine I did, the 1275 A-series in Deb's 1300, was assembled on the back court and fitted to its gearbox.


We then carried the assembly through the house, and up the cellar steps. I bolted on the manifold and carb, alternator, engine mounts, radiator etc, while Richard assembled the crane and jacked the car up so that the crane would go underneath. Another 20 minutes saw the engine swung into place, bolted down,the driveshafts refitted and the bonnet bolted back on. That lot was enough for one evening, as I don't get home until 20:30, so we went for a beer.

You have lived when two of you install that engine and gearbox without a crane. Just  two straps. Youth of today don't know luxury.

[kevinp58]

Garage? What luxury, I do all my stuff in the street!


The last engine I did, the 1275 A-series in Deb's 1300, was assembled on the back court and fitted to its gearbox.


We then carried the assembly through the house, and up the cellar steps. I bolted on the manifold and carb, alternator, engine mounts, radiator etc, while Richard assembled the crane and jacked the car up so that the crane would go underneath. Another 20 minutes saw the engine swung into place, bolted down,the driveshafts refitted and the bonnet bolted back on. That lot was enough for one evening, as I don't get home until 20:30, so we went for a beer.

You have lived when two of you install that engine and gearbox without a crane. Just  two straps. Youth of today don't know luxury.

I did a Vauxhall viva HC engine on my own  mind you I was a lot younger and stupid 

[Nick W]

Garage? What luxury, I do all my stuff in the street!


The last engine I did, the 1275 A-series in Deb's 1300, was assembled on the back court and fitted to its gearbox.


We then carried the assembly through the house, and up the cellar steps. I bolted on the manifold and carb, alternator, engine mounts, radiator etc, while Richard assembled the crane and jacked the car up so that the crane would go underneath. Another 20 minutes saw the engine swung into place, bolted down,the driveshafts refitted and the bonnet bolted back on. That lot was enough for one evening, as I don't get home until 20:30, so we went for a beer.

You have lived when two of you install that engine and gearbox without a crane. Just  two straps. Youth of today don't know luxury.

I've done enough Mini/Escort/Capri/Avenger engines with a rope and a scaffold pole when I was young, stupid and didn't know any better. £200 for an engine crane is money well spent and makes such jobs both easier and safer. It also means that crazy ideas involving 500ci Caddilac engines become viable.

[biggriffin]

Fit 2.5 cyl heads, 3.0 downpipes.

[JamesV6CDX]

Fit 2.5 cyl heads, 3.0 downpipes.

I have the 3.0 downpipes here, but..... 2.6 heads?

Compression ratio aside, you'd have to use the 3.2 gasket, to accommodate the bore size, Id' think - so it wouldn't sit "straight" around the fire rings, on a 2.6 head? 

[Steve B]

That will be three cars you have james when this one is finished,  So which one you going get shut of.  I vote the big beast

[JamesV6CDX]

Seeing as the sun's decided to come out, I thought I'd make a bit more progress on this, yesterday, so I went and removed the AR35 autobox from the Elite, which is being stored at my mum's place around 70 miles away.

That was all I was planning to do, but I made good time and was home by 3pm, so thought I may as well take advantage of the lighter evenings and get the thing fitted whilst I was still dirty!!

Here she is going on to the project:





As you can see by the pics, easy enough to fit an autobox with the car on axle stands. I did this one on my own with the gearbox sat on a trolley jack, on a rubber mat to stop it slipping around.

I have to say, the job would be made a million times easier with two people. The hardest part of it for me, was lifting the gearbox up into the back of estate to bring it home, and then lifting it back to the ground to fit it. But needs must, seeing as I was working as a billy-no-mates!!

[JamesV6CDX]

For anyone unaware, (as the pics don't show it - I didn't fit the torque converter to the box until it was under the car)

The correct way to fit these boxes is to locate the torque converter inside the bellhousing first, and fit it as one unit. There is an access hole in the engine block, to then get the bolts through and bolt the torque converter to the drive plate. This makes life a million times easier and greatly reduces the risk of damaging the seal on the gearbox shaft