Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Dec 1, 2009 20:23:24 GMT -6
I have decided to take the plunge and try to revive my baby. This is the first Aurora I bought and it suffered head gasket failure going 110 down I44! I drove it to Colorado a week after I bought it and then all the way to Key West a year later. It is my favorite Aurora and even with almost 190,000 I still want to revive it. If you have seen my Youtube channel it is in most of my Aurora videos, it is the one with the straight pipes. I mean real straight, no resonator or mufflers.  Hey Zach, it fired right up when I jump started it with my van. It even sounds pretty good with all the wires and hoses chewed up, that is if you can hear past the vacuum leaks and ticking lifter. I wanted to run it up and down the road, but the trans was slipping a little. When I checked it, it wasn't even showing on the stick. It took me 3 hours to drop the engine by myself, I started at 3 and cleaned up at 6. The hardest part was finding a 18mm half inch socket I lost, and then it just appeared on the floor out of nowhere. The engine is free except for one heater core hose, I will deal with that in the next round of daylight. After that I just have to jack the car up higher so I can pull everything out. I am going to pull the donor vehicle next to it and drop the assembly out of it. I am a little concerned about putting it back in, but I am going to try my best. What makes it a lot easier is that I am changing everything, the motor, trans, all suspension, and subframe. I will not have to unbolt any motors or move them from one to the other.      I don't normally do this, but here are some 6k free revs before dropping.    |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 20:35:26 GMT -6
SCORE!! this is the aurora I fell in love with at your house? Ugh and your van probably has a bit of a stronger charging system compared to the GA. Next meet I HAVE to drive this car. I can't believe your really doing a complete subframe swap. Which aurora did you pull the motor out of if you dont mind me asking? (the donor motor)
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Dec 1, 2009 21:49:09 GMT -6
Yes, it's the one. I hope I can get it running. I am using the stuff out of the one I call Jasons Aurora. Not my brother, but a friend I bought it from. It is a early '97, crashed on drivers side front, with 130,000 miles. Having trouble posting pics, I will try later. I did get one to load. There is also a pic of it in my '97 parts for sale thread.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 22:22:50 GMT -6
I dont recall seing that one at your house randy. Or maybe I did, was it further towards the end of cars?
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Post by oldwino on Dec 1, 2009 22:35:03 GMT -6
Looks like a lot of work, Randy. Good Luck. I'm curious to see how you're going to get it up high enough to get that engine out and the new one in.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2009 22:44:06 GMT -6
Looks like a lot of work, Randy. Good Luck. I'm curious to see how you're going to get it up high enough to get that engine out and the new one in. I'm thinking that at this point the front end is so light that he could get his brother and one of his friends over there to just lift it high enough to clear the motor and hold it while randy puts this one underneath it. |
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Post by oldwino on Dec 1, 2009 22:51:39 GMT -6
Looks like a lot of work, Randy. Good Luck. I'm curious to see how you're going to get it up high enough to get that engine out and the new one in. I'm thinking that at this point the front end is so light that he could get his brother and one of his friends over there to just lift it high enough to clear the motor and hold it while randy puts this one underneath it. Sounds plausible. ;D |
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Post by oneye on Dec 2, 2009 5:27:37 GMT -6
How are you raising the car -- with a hoist, or jacks? And moving the subframes ... six or seven hundred pounds doesn't slide real well on gravel. Maybe you have a tractor with a front-end loader?
I ask about a hoist because I was thinking of getting one of the Harbor Freight offerings, wonder if anyone has experience with them....
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Dec 2, 2009 10:22:57 GMT -6
Aura1 that pic was a mistake, I changed it, it was the farthest car in my lineup. I only have to jack it up about another foot to get it out, and yes I am just using jacks. I thought about buying a hoist, but it would not be good on gravel. I will just drag it around and fix anything I damage. I was also thinking about trying to put the wheels back on and seeing if that helps. Or maybe I will just start it up and let it drive itself out. Then I won't need any help, I can pick the car up myself. There is another thread somewhere where I pulled another motor, I will see if I can find it. |
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dsplk
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95 green on the mend
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Post by dsplk on Dec 2, 2009 11:13:18 GMT -6
is there anything that you did to cap off the AC lines, that makes it easier to recharge later?
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XJSman89
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Post by XJSman89 on Dec 2, 2009 11:28:52 GMT -6
I'm happy that you're giving the silver teal a new lease on life. Out of all your Auroras, even your red Autobahn, this one is my favorite. I absolutely love the color, and this baby is the reason that I got straight pipes!
Did you ever get the lines redone on your Autobahn btw?
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Mar 4, 2011 12:42:49 GMT -6
207,000 miles now, drive it every day. Whole front drivetrain went in pretty easy. I have hallowed the cat and intake and I also have a set of Lucerne calipers to install. I just need to pick up some rotors. I also have the '99 style backing plates so I won't have to bend them for the rotors to fit. |
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Post by kyngofpop on Mar 4, 2011 13:21:12 GMT -6
Congrats! Was it difficult hallowing the cats?
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bobsblue95
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Scars of pleasure, scars of pain. Atmospheric changes make you sensitive again.
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Post by bobsblue95 on Mar 4, 2011 14:17:08 GMT -6
Congrats! Looking forward to passing 200K in mine someday! (knock on wood!)
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Mar 18, 2011 16:17:43 GMT -6
Thanks. Hallowing out the cat is pretty easy, remove the exhaust system hang it and use a prybar or something. I spoke to soon on my car, it is locked down with a no start issue.  |
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Post by nighteye on Mar 21, 2011 20:48:55 GMT -6
Good Pictures Randy, I got mine ready to drop after work tomorrow night, I have been going by the Manual but some of this crap is confusing to a construction worker. I have used your pictures more than a few times to clear stuff up. Thanks for posting them  |
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Mar 26, 2011 11:47:42 GMT -6
Hey, no problem! Glad the pics are helping. |
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Mar 26, 2011 12:30:21 GMT -6
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Post by nelson480 on Mar 26, 2011 12:33:07 GMT -6
Hey randy bout time for tires? Very good, looks hard lol |
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Post by tipsymcstager on Mar 26, 2011 18:43:39 GMT -6
not that i've haven't done things like that before(worse in fact), but man 'o man those are scary looking sissor jacks, on them cinderblocks! and doing a job like that in gravel? that's got to be a drag! (pun intended) ;D LOL!!! so i wont say anything do what ya got'a do right? |
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Mar 27, 2011 10:42:39 GMT -6
I got a set of almost new tires now, they also came with a parts car. When the jacks were above the stands I did not go anywhere underneath it. It was a drag, used the winch on the front of my van. lol I didn't get any pics of the install, but I had the other Aurora right beside it. I dropped the front assembly on furniture carts on plywood so I could roll it underneath easier. Still wasn't easy. |
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Randy T.
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Post by Randy T. on Jul 27, 2013 6:33:05 GMT -6
Bad news RT, that motor you installed only lasted a couple years, but here's the good news. We are installing a 4.6 with a 3:71 trans, and a tuned computer. I thought you would like to know the good news. There have also been some changes in Spfd, 2 salvage yards opened up with $200 motors and all the Auroras and Cadillacs you could need. So we can blow and tear everything up in the name of fun without any worries. -Randy T. from the future.
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