This posting is one in a series. If you have not yet read the earlier postings in the series, you’ll need to, as this posting won’t make much sense without having done so! Just do a search using the word “SLURP”.

Today was an epic day on the SLURP project! Randy arrived this morning, we drained the remainder of the engine coolant, and drained the transmission, brought the engine hoist into position, and began the process of pulling the engine and transmission as a unit.
Here is what the sequence looked like:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine001.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine002.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine003.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine004.jpg

By noon, we had the engine / tranny combo on the floor in front of Red, and with at LEAST 825 pounds off of him, Red’s ride height was looking definitely “gasser”!

Randy spent the remainder of the day stripping the firewall, both sides, while I started cleaning and sanding it. Randy inspired me by pointing out what the firewall COULD look like if cleaned up a bit, and that is now “in scope”.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine005.jpg

Mike J, the buyer of the 261 and transmission, arrived, from Minnesota (!!) shortly after we pulled them. As you can see, he was delighted, as we had carefully removed, bagged, and labeled all the small parts, including even the initial sections of the exhaust system.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine006.jpg

Stepping over to the NEW 6.0 liter engine, this is absolutely the best time EVER to change the sparkplugs!! So, I did!

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine007.jpg

Mike J built his own combination pallet and crate, using lumber I volunteered:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine008.jpg

and we got it onto Mike’s trailer:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine009.jpg

using the ever-faithful John Deere, which picked it up like it was no heavier than its normal work:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine010.jpg

In the meantime, Randy removed the entire front axle / leaf springs / wheels / tires assembly, to make the frame fully accessible for cleaning and repainting, and in preparation for Red’s new non-metal springs (coming very soon).

With well over 1000 pounds off of him, Red definitely looks like a “gasser” now!

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh16/JimGnitecki/Outwitholdengine011.jpg

Jim G