Long time no...anything. I hope all is well with all of you and your Volvos and the loved ones you drive in them. You may remember me from a post a few months back seeking advice for a junkyard engine pull. For reference, that post is here: viewtopic.php?t=103632
Here's a recap of the pull. I'll provide an update in the next post.
Thanks to your excellent guidance, the pull was really quite simple despite being on a very cold day in an open yard. Even though the front end was crunched (see pics attached and in previous post) the engine came out without too much trouble. I had to cut through a few structural members that had been twisted and bent, but my trusty Makita reciprocating saw and a selection of Lenox Torch and Diablo Steel Demon blades cleared the way. I wound up removing all the sheet metal and frame from just below the right headlight to just past the middle of the driver's side wheel well. Much of that required saw work, but some was removed properly. To the extent possible, I removed components carefully and for the most part only sawed when I had to.
I was able to free the engine by the end of the day, but other crews on the lot were using the two hoists so I had to go back the following morning to complete the task and load it on my trailer to bring home. The hoist turned out to be the worst part of the whole operation. Its four wheels pivoted individually, making it extremely hard to maneuver between the narrow rows of cars. Additionally, individual wheels would pivot to the point of not allowing the hoist to roll at all, so I would have put my back underneath one corner and lift part of the hoist to re-align the wheel every few yards. Definitely a workout. It would have been easier with a helper, but none were available. All in all, it took over an hour just to move the hoist from one side of the yard to the other side where the donor car was.
I took a bunch of pictures, but shortly after the pull my phone decided to stop working so I lost most of them (and I don't use the cloud...) I only have the few pics below that I sent to people while I was working that day.
Closeup of LF damage
- closeup damage.jpg (460.6 KiB) Viewed 442 times
- slice through bumper.jpg (576.11 KiB) Viewed 442 times
- fender gone.jpg (377.52 KiB) Viewed 442 times
- on the hook.jpg (441.81 KiB) Viewed 442 times
Next up--what have I done with it over the last three months? Well...
