S1 V6 auto back on the road at last!! - Problem solved!!

[russ92xmsed]

Well Done Matthew. Let's hope it really behaves this time. Sure it will.

Pics don't seem to be working....

[MTXM]

Many thanks Russ and I am also definitely hoping the same!! The pictures are showing for me although it may take time to upload. With regards, Matthew T.

[russ92xmsed]

Yep load fine. Looks good. The nest of wires and pipes can be seen!!

[Dieselman]

I don't think I've ever seen your Cobalt car. Has it been on the road in your tenure?

[MTXM]

The cobalt car was acquired as a 'project' Will and it has not been on the road in my time and stood for eight years before that!! In addition to a gearbox rebuild there is also some welding needed on the sills and front wheel arches and other bodywork to tidy. The plus points are the very sweet 75K engine and clean interior and being a late S1 12v it has 24v trim and cruise control etc. If time and costs allow I hope to have the car on the road later this year. With regards, Matthew T.

[MTXM]

I finally completed the refit last weekend and all went reasonably well, including the opportunity taken to replace a couple of water hoses with other better examples in my store. The engine spun a couple of times on first turn of the key and all sounded good, but then I realized I had no petrol! After further additions I tried again, although oddly the starter motor now seems to have died - luckily a new discounted Valeo example was found on the bay! I wonder if there may have been internal damage due to the loose starter ring? With regards, Matthew T.

[MTXM]

Well the project is completed at last after a long late-night session earlier this week, although there was one further quite significant complication! The original starter does seems to have failed and after fitting the replacement she fired up first time, but once again with a worrying background metallic clatter!! I soon realized the problem was an incorrectly fitted torque convertor, in which I had slightly lived in fear given the engine and box were a real fiddle to reunite. There was no way I could face removing the unit once again, but amazingly I managed to split insitu just sufficiently to allow space to prise the t/c back, also thanks to an inspection hole underneath. A fair amount of work was still involved with accessing and releasing the four securing bolts and flywheel bolts, but certainly less hassle than a fifth removal! I certainly learnt a lesson there and I found when the t/c is correctly in place the flywheel bolts pull it back slightly. I also had a major lhm spillage from a detached return pipe with a second to rejoin and there is a slight blow on the exhaust, but otherwise all seems good. With regards, Matthew T.

[White Exec]

You were really lucky, Matt, to be able to get the torque converter etc back into correct position. The air must have been blue!
Glad to see it all back and running.

[MTXM]

Yes thank you Chris it was quite upsetting to find the problem, but I had a hunch relocation might be possible and as always I doggedly persevered! With regards, Matthew T.

[Dieselman]

When you are in a hole there is only one way thing to do. Keep going.

Well done for persevering.