Engine Removal

Build Day 1

Made a start on removing the engine this evening. Decided (hopefully wisely) to kept a full photographic record or the dismantling process and to label parts removed and bag the little nuts and bolts etc in the hope that it will significantly aid the reassembly process. I suspect when I start putting it back together, I might buy another tatty example to check how things go as the Haynes manual only goes so far.

First of all, off with the bonnet

Bonnet off ready to start engine removal

Battery and tray removed

Front cross member removed to allow access to radiator

Radiator and Oil Cooler and Fans Removed

All in all, not a bad result for a couple of hours in the garage. I have a few last jobs to finish on the Cobra on Saturday then I will be onto this project without further distraction.

Im planning to have the rebuild finished by the end of 2015 as this is a hobby and there are no deadlines to be met.

The Starting Point

Well here begins my blog...

As I was nearing completion of my AC Cobra replica build, I was on the look out for a new project and I happened to stumble upon a beat up old Peugeot 205GTi 1.9 Phase 1 on eBay for £650. On the positive side it was local, had a clean HPI check (which I was quite surprised about given the amount of these that were either stolen or written off back in the 90s) and it was unmolested and relatively rust free. On the negative side however, the paintwork is shot, the drivers seat is knackered and most importantly the engine has a crack in the block.

My rebuild plan looks like this...

Take the engine out and have a quote for a rebuild. If the engine is salvageable I will attempt to rebuild the car to near showroom condition. If the engine needs to be replaced I will build a track day car but it will be fully refurbished, freshly painted rebuilt track car not an ugly banger.

My logic behind the two rebuild options is that I don't think the car will ever be worth much if the engine isn't the original. At the moment the whole car is original with all serial numbers matching V5 and the car even has the factory fitted Radio Cassette player in it.

Here's what am I starting with...

Not the best example around...

Is this worth saving?

Bonnet Paintwork

Faded Rubbing Strips and Bumper Insert

Paintwork Shot

Driver's Seat Worn Out

Broken Arch Protector and Faded Bumper Insert