The Tragic Tale of ElSuperPinto

[Adieu]

Oh the horror, the shear unadulterated horror!

This is the third Duratec/Ecoboost/Cyclone family V6 I've had torn down this far. This one would've been SO much easier with the powertrain dropped out of it. Doing it in-car sucks ass.

Got the timing chain back on it and called it a day, I'd been outside working on it for 9 hours at that point.

 

[General karthief]

That is more stupid than when gm thought putting a starter under the intake was a good Idea.

 

[Adieu]

That is more stupid than when gm thought putting a starter under the intake was a good Idea.

Hey, putting the starter under the intake is perfectly fine. There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever. (That's where it is on a 4.7L Toyota V8, like the one in my 4Runner.)

In all reality, there's nothing wrong with putting the starter there, IF you're going to use a starter that isn't garbage (Toyota uses Denso, GM uses Remy, guess which one usually lasts a quarter million miles before it gives you a warning noise for a few weeks before it fails, and which one fails around 36k when the warranty is gone?

 

[General karthief]

It must be the gm, I don't remember seeing a 'yota with a starter problem, but then it's a small shop,

 

[LILCBRA]

In either case, it's an engineer who designed it with constraints from designers. Neither one seem to take into account the people that have to wrench on things. It seems to be a running issue in engineering, whether it's the mechanics who have to repair failures or the toolmakers building the tools to make such nonsense, I think we all cuss them from time to time. I mean it's all good in theory and when everything is new, but then when something goes wrong it seems you gotta take half of the assembly apart just to repair a simple part - but that's not THEIR problem......

 

[Adieu]

In either case, it's an engineer who designed it with constraints from designers. Neither one seem to take into account the people that have to wrench on things. It seems to be a running issue in engineering, whether it's the mechanics who have to repair failures or the toolmakers building the tools to make such nonsense, I think we all cuss them from time to time. I mean it's all good in theory and when everything is new, but then when something goes wrong it seems you gotta take half of the assembly apart just to repair a simple part - but that's not THEIR problem......

Here's the best part...

The RWD versions of the Duratec don't have an internal water pump!

The only reason I've been this far inside the RWD version is because the extra heat from the turbos on the Ecoboost version cause the timing chain tensioner and or cam phasers to fail. They're the exact same parts as the non-turbo engines, and on the non-turbo engine, said parts have seen 300,000+ miles without failure so long as the water pump on the FWD version doesn't destroy them with coolant.

So a 3.3/3.5/3.7 F150 without turbos might not ever be torn down this far, and neither will a 3.7 Mustang. Just the 3.5 Ecoboost in the trucks and SUVs due to timing chain issues, and all of the FWD/AWD versions with this retarded water pump design.

 

[Adieu]

These pictures just show all of the tools that came home from work just to do this stupid water pump. Luckily I have one of these:
https://www.mactools.com/en-us/Tool-Storage/Tool-Bags/TB506/Wheel-Pro-Bag so it was easy enough to tote it all home. Seriously though, the only tools "from home" for this project are that long 1/2-drive Harbor Freight extension and the chrome Bluepoint socket set. All of the cordless tools, the torque wrenches, the cam-holding tools, long ratchets, cat's claw tools, cooling system air lift, balancer puller, balancer installer, serpentine belt tool, and the stubby Astro Pneumatic sockets made the trip home from work just to get this job done.

The Mustang II saw some use as a table and workbench for the day.

 

[Adieu]

These somehow ended up out of order, and I'm on the living room multimedia PC which has a touchpad instead of a mouse or trackball right now, so fixing it would suck.

The last picture is of the new water pump installed on the engine, with a lot of gasket scraping on the block left to do.

The second-to-last picture is illustrating one of the secondary timing chain assemblies being re-assembled.

The first picture is all of all of the chains, tensioners, and guides being re-assembled, and the engine ready for the timing cover.

The second picture is of the engine with the timing cover and VCTs back on. I took two more photos, but when I went to post them via my phone, they were gone, no idea what happened.

 

[Adieu]

Finally had a chance to fire the bastard up today (got everything done but coolant and oil before dark last weekend). Runs smoother than it has in ages, no leaks, and most importantly, no knocking, even after being run at 2500rpm for 10 minutes to burp the coolant.

 

[Adieu]

In SuperPinto news... some progress was inadverdently made on that old hunk 'o junk this week.

I have secured a Tremec TR3650 transmission from a 2004 Mach 1 for free... If you can't guess where this is going, hang on. If you can, DON'T SPOIL IT FOR ANYONE DAMMIT!!!

 

[CobraRed_96_GT]

the stubby Astro Pneumatic sockets made the trip home from work just to get this job done.

A product I helped develop being discussed on the first car forum I ever joined when i was like 16. Love it

 

[Adieu]

A product I helped develop being discussed on the first car forum I ever joined when i was like 16. Love it

They've been brought up in the Tool Review Thread in the Foxbody section as well. Another member there has the 1/2" drive set.

They almost instantly became my go-to sockets when I got them. They were on Amazon for a "why the hell not?" price, so I ordered them, and they're an absolute godsend for brakes, timing covers, serpentine belts, and so much more. I have Snap-On, Craftsman, and Sunex sets collecting dust because of these.

 

[2Blue2]

The Mustang II saw some use as a table and workbench for the day.

Any loving is good loving... (reminds me of one of my other mustangs 'Ole Shelf' its in the garage just holding stuff up)

I have secured a Tremec TR3650 transmission from a 2004 Mach 1 for free...

Oooh! Freee! Second best price in the world Baby!... ( well they could pay ya to take it.)

 

[Adieu]

 

[LILCBRA]

And a K-member?! Hmmm.......

 

[2Blue2]

I don't think thats where it goes in the car, but your getting closer!

 

[Adieu]

And a K-member?! Hmmm.......

My buddy offered the transmission, and when I showed up he threw in the K-member, shifter, crossmember, a clutch cable, and a quadrant.

I don't think thats where it goes in the car, but your getting closer!

Well, it's in the back of the 4Runner, so...

 

[Adieu]

Highway 195 Auto Parts in Killeen, Texas has this '78 2.3/4spd coupe in the yard. It no longer has a hood, hood release, pedals, or wiper arms after I got done with it.

 

[LILCBRA]

Looks pretty picked over already....

 

[Adieu]

Looks pretty picked over already....

It is, there's still an engine (it's been bored .060" according to the rebuilder's data plate), trans, column, seat tracks, and all the sheetmetal but the hood. There was a complete Weber/Holley carb and a partial, a few wheels, a 6.25 rear end in it, and a power rack.

Sad truth is the body on that thing is cleaner than ElSupePinto's. Seems a shame it'll be crushed soon. At least its hood will live on and the pedals will contribute to the still top-secret powertrain.