[transferred from previous blog - written 3/19/10]
This is a record of the fun and games in switching out a monster engine (Detroit Diesel 671) that sits below the floor in my main salon. For the last two weeks, my lovely oak floors have been covered with thermo-ply kept in place with tape in a delightful shade of blue. I’m not really inconvenienced as long as I close my eyes as I pass through the area. I do need to put off having dinner guests. Here’s the story:
A few years ago I had a sump pump failure and my engine room filled half way up with sump water – covering the transmission and half the engine. For some reason, it never worked after that!
I finally decided to tackle it in December and I engaged the ‘can fix anything’ boat mechanic, Ed to remove the offending rusted monster and find me a second-hand well working engine to replace it. Then I went to Mexico and the work commenced.
Unfortunately, $1200 later I was informed that even with stripping the monster down to the block, the block itself weighed 2000 lbs and my floors would not support it even if he and his elves did find a way to lift it out.
Then along came Ronnie. Ronnie was highly recommended by his and my friend Arne. “Ronnie can cut up anything – a pick-up truck even”. So I’m now in my second week of nearly daily visits by a good natured, very strong, and very tidy engine killer. Up until yesterday he was un-bolting and hauling out parts, draining water and oil that seemed to be coming from everywhere, making daily trips to the dump/recycling center and warning me that “tomorrow will be noisy.”
He’s got it down to the bare block now and yesterday made his first cut. The little piece he carried out was about 24? x 10? and nearly bowled him over as he carried it out. More next week….
Well, it’s now next month, not next week, but here at Week 7, lots has happened:
 Week 7 |
 Front of engine |
 Week 7.5 |
May 3 – two months since the project begun – and the engine is gone! Here’s the last piece to go, and the vacant spot for the new engine:
 Last piece |
 Engine Gone! |
 Ronnie - job's done. |
Ronnie was great, and certainly needs a job with less grease and lighter materials so he can recuperate.
