The replacement engine is bolted in.
I'm stopping for a bite.
If the rain holds off, I'll probably have it running today, as I'm doing all this in my gravel driveway and don't feel like getting muddy!

I JB Welded the radiator and cleaned up that bellhousing bolt...messed with a couple other things (swapping over sensors etc.).

I'll upload a couple pics later. It'll probably take longer to do that then it did to set the new motor in!

 

Mom's car LIVES!


Here’s the replacement engine in place.




Here it is finally running.



Edit: I may have gotten a job out of this whole deal. The transport company that moved my Mom’s car across country has asked me to inspect cars for them at auction.
I hope they're not BSing me about the pay but, if they're serious, it's a lot of money!

 

So I put a few miles on Moms car today.
No leaks, squeaks or buzzing heat shields. No check engine light.

Left the eBay seller 5 star feedback. The engine runs like a new one.

I need the radio code and the tpms light is on. Found one of the valves in the glove box. (See my first or second post).

 

Radio code might be in the glove box on a small white sticker.
If not I can tell you how to get it using the radio preset buttons.
I don't work again until Monday but any dealer should give you the code if you have the serial number needed.

 

I'll take you up on that, Painterguy. Thanks for the offer.
I'm planning on keeping the car a week, at least. Gotta make sure she doesnt get killed again.

My Mack dump truck will shut off if it gets hot or loses oil pressure. I never, for the life of me, could figure out why in the hell no car has an auto shutdown feature to keep the engine from self destructing.
Conspiracy?
Stupidity, I think!

 

Marginal costs and profits. A commercial rig has a completely different business model.

Remember when Ford was itemizing the cost per life in order to determine if it was economical to make Pintos safe?

 

LOL! That's a bit before my time!
I actually had a Pinto Wagon in high school but it was 12 years old then.
I was about 8-9 when all that was going on.

My parents have always been unlucky-with/hard-on-vehicles.
My brothers have killed three cars that I've given them.
A Pontiac 6000, my brother overheated trying to get out of a snow bank (same brother that killed this Fit).
He also overheated a Subaru Legacy wagon I gave them.
He rear ended someone while driving a Volvo 240 sedan a gave my Mom. I had resurrected it after buying it from a neighbor for $150 or something.
I took it back, replaced the front clip, did some suspension work, drove it for a couple years and gave it back to her.
My other brother wrecked it somehow, and drove it to the junk yard.

I've always said that I'm going to wire some kind of fail safe shutdown into their cars so that they are forced to stop driving before destroying the engine.
At least oil pressure and coolant temp. That would probably do it. It would have saved my Mom's Fit.

I took the engine apart today (no I didn't weigh it).
The pistons got big enough to scratch the cylinders on #2 and #3.
The cylinder head looked fine. I didn't put my straight edge on it but I'm thinking it could have been skimmed.
She would have been a smoker and a piston slapper for sure!

 

I see Flash Gordon had an impact on you. (uncanny resemblance to Brian Blessed).

 

LOL! I'll take that compliment!
He was actually a friend of my Father's in the 60's!

I'm half Welsh so I'm a little guy compared to them. My Dad (and Grandfather) was 6'4".

 

I'm eBaying off what's left of my Mom's engine.

2009 13 Honda Fit Cylinder Head Junk | eBay

 

How much for the dog?

 

LOl! Beat you to it!

See just above shipping policy.

 

My wife has been driving the Fit back and forth to work every day.
So far, so good.
I repaired the radiator with JB Weld and it's holding. What I thought might be a small leak, wasn't.
It hasn't lost a drop in 200 miles.

I picked up a NAPA fan yesterday. Not sure if it's correct. Looks very different (better) then the stock fan, but looks like it will mount and plug in like the OEM one.

The new radiator is coming Mon-Tues.
Although my repair seems to be holding, I'm not giving the car back without a new radiator. I don't want a repeat of what happened last month....EVER!
My wife has never overheated a car to death. Sure she's had a couple of our hoopdies get hot over the years, but has always had the common sense to pull over.

I made a couple observations while performing the engine transplant that I'll share.

#1 Something that anyone who has changed a starter already knows; The oil pressure sensor has to be removed to get the starter out.
#2 The wiper cowl clips break easily, so plan on that.
#3 The passenger side axle carrier bearing and bracket need to be secured before you drop the engine in (if you're doing it from the top).
That little mistake cost me about an hour.

So that's pretty much the end of this story.
Oh yeah. My Mom is expecting a check from the aftermarket warranty company. That'll ease the sting a little bit.
If the check comes, she'll be out a thousand, all said and done (depending how generous she's feeling about my part in the whole saga).

Lesson learned? I doubt it!

 

Gashog, thanks for sharing your experience & knowledge. I'm sure it will come in handy for someone.

I was actually thinking about offering you a hand after googling where Warwick is , but you finished quick.

 

LOL! Loads of other projects you can help me out with if you want!
I have a frame swap to do. My 2001 Dodge Dakota is due for another frame off resto!
That's for another forum tho!

 

^^^ Hey, no problem... it's getting a little cold around our parts lately, but keep me updated. Ofcourse my skills are no where near yours, but I'd be glad to lend an extra hand... I'm sure I'd learn a lot.

Definitely let me know in the future.

 

Thanks man. If I get into something interesting, I'll let you know.
Project for this weekend is framing out some walls and a floor in part of my shop. Need an office (heated!) and some storage racks for body panels and such.
I have a wood stove to put in it also!

I just talked to a guy down in Rockland about a 292 Chevy. Turns out, his sister is practically my next door neighbor.
That's gonna go in my RV and the 454 (too much power...too much gas) will go in a pickup truck or something. Maybe a Camaro!
If I could ever get my hands on a '55 Chevy.........
That'd be a fun one!

 

^^^ I know.... I'm trying to finish up some home repairs/upgrades before it gets too cold. I need to heat my garage, but don't have time for that project (I even have most of the supplies).

Keep us updated.

 

Dang, I was way late to the party. Glad to see you got it out the top, that's how I did it. Such an easy engine to replace and plentiful supply of sub $800 engines. Great job.

 

Thanks.
I'm doing a partial tear down of a Scooby EJ257 right now.....well, getting ready to drop it back in the car today.
What a frigin ball buster!
I can't even walk through my garage, there are so many parts on the floor!

That little Honda was a snap.
Still running perfectly BTW. Not one leak, rattle....nothin!
Mom never payed me anything. Oh well! Maybe Santa will bring me something LOL!