Big Weekend (VW and Moving!) Kinda Long

[wcollins@sbnsw.com.au]

Guys and Gals,

Well, another weekend has passed and wasn't it a big one.  There is good news 
though on the home front though.  Have been working on a friends (workmates) 
Nissan Exa.  However, due to time constraints over the weekend the only things 
I managed to do were to check the air filter, the colour of the oil, the rusty 
water in the radiator and the build up on the battery terminals. So here goes 
the weekend.

Saturday.  Up early due to the neighbours Ford.  Did some housework, put the 
washing on.  Went to buy some fender beading for Aaron Britcher (of this list, 
and got one side for you buddy, hope to post it today to you!) without too 
much trouble.  By 10:00am was down helping some friends shift into there new 
residence.  (And I thought I had a lot of stuff!!)  4 two tonne trucks later 
it was done.  Saturday night BBQ.  Got home about 11:00pm after BBQ that 
night.  Time to hit the hay!

Sunday.  Daylight Saving kicks in so lose an hour of sleep. Don't need that at 
the moment.  Up at 7:00am and off again.  Did the usual Sunday morning stuff 
like grab the papers and laze about.  11:15am and I'm off to meet Steve Farmer 
(Last week Steve sent a note across the net for free '73 Fastback parts)  
Arrived just after 12:00pm. Met the family and watched a bit of "The Mask" on 
Video that Steve had playing for the kids.  Expecting to find all the pieces 
in a nice heap, I didn't take any work clothes.  Luckily though Steve had some 
old jeans to wear.  Steve had started working on the car on the Saturday and 
most of the big stuff was removed.  First order of business, dropped the 
engine (FI) and gearbox (Automatic) without too many hassles.  (except a 
broken jack and a lot of oil.  Oops!!!)  Then we split the gearbox from the 
engine as another member from the list wanted the Automatic Gearbox.  (Andy, 
have everything you asked for except the drive shafts which Steve still has 
but they look like they might have to go with the box. Not sure about the pan 
at the moment though.  There are some differences but I'll see what I come up 
with.)  Next step take out the Torque converter.

Hmmm.  Consult the Bentley Manual and see what happens.  Bentley says "Drop 
engine, Take off Engine/Gearbox Removal Tool, Pull and Twist torque converter 
off." (Abbreviated not word for word).  So we pull, and twist and pull and 
twist some more.  She ain't coming.  Well in the absence of anything else, I 
say I'm going to undo these little studs here and if it comes off, pull out 
that page of the manual.  10 minutes later it was off.  I think Steve still 
has the page in the book though. But Bentley just lost his credibility.

Flywheel plate is off now and was really easy once we'd borrowed a bit of 
water pipe from next door's renovation site to use as the breaker bar..  A 
seized engine was also helpful.  Next step, inside the car.  An array of 
spanners, screwdrivers, coal chisels etc. procured the pedal assembly, 
shifting pad, wiring looms and various other pieces of available parts.  I 
think Steve might have got sick of me asking "Do you want this?"  The hand 
brake is still there, Steve,  "Do you want it?" 

Anyway, it is possible to remove the complete wiring loom from a car without 
cutting it.  Just ask Steve as he watched me do it!!  No, you don't need a 
knife, just a screwdriver and a bit of patience.  Despite some areas having 
already been cut I managed to pull every last bit of wire out of the thing 
before leaving and even the FI box was removed through some very small holes 
in tact.  (Except for the bits Steve wanted of course.)  During this time, 
Steve removed the side and rear windows for me.  We also found out how the 

By the time we'd finished, the car was totally guttered.  The only things left 
were effectively the front end, the pan and the rear end.  Just a shell up 
top.  (Ever wondered what a car looked like before it was put together?)

Anyway, about 6:00pm, I headed off home, loaded down with the gearbox, an 
engine (from under one of Steve's trees), the glass, the wiring loom, the 
other essential gearbox stuff, both halves of the back seats.  Was fun.  Must 
make a second trip though to pick up some more stuff.   Steve, let me know if 
sometime next weekend would be good for you to finish off the mess we'd made?

Anyway, I had an exhausting weekend but enjoyed every minute of it.  Was great 
to catch up with someone from the list.  We've got a few questions for Jim 
when he gets back, but other than that it was great.  Thanks for all you help 
Steve.  I hope your wife understands that the car will be there a little bit 
longer.

Now I need two days off to recover.  Catcha.

Wayne
'72 Notch
'73 Square
'83 Sigma