Nearly ready to remove the block...

As you heard last week, the rest of the engine is coming out... again...  so time to get ready for the block to be removed...  Jason was hoping to be available today to do it, but was working instead, so Damian set to work doing the final preparation for the block removal...

Off came the bonnet...

Off came the musical air horns and bell housing bolts...

All that remains is to get a crane and attach to the block, undo the flywheel bolts and the engine mounts, and lift it out!!

With a bit of spare time up his sleeve, Damian set about installing the new white safety lights... even though the existing LED ones were ultra-bright, the size caused a bit of discussion at last year's scrutineering, so he decided that bigger is better and got some larger ultra-bright LEDs!!

Hopefully Jason will be able to come around on Monday night, and the block can be removed without too much drama... stay tuned!!

Another week, another engine removal...

Regular blog readers will remember that last week it was time for the head to be removed (again) and sent away for some TLC...  Good news - the spare head is suitable for reconditioning... bad news - the head that was on had a crack in the inlet manifold... Talk about not being able to take a trick!!

Of course, the decision has now been made to remove the rest of the block and send it away to have the flat-top pistons removed and some concave ones installed to reduce the compression...  Might as well - it wouldn't be another year of preparation if the engine wasn't in and out a couple of times!!

First up, remove the thermo fan...

Then the radiator...

Off with the engine fan...

Aidan took some artistic shots of the engine block with various bits removed...

Starter motor and coil gone...  (The fuel pump and distributor were gone shortly after!)

And a whole stack of engine parts lined up waiting to be put back on...

Jason will pop over sometime during the week with an engine crane to get the block out... hopefully the engine will be right to go back in within the next week or two!!

Stay tuned...

Off with the head... AGAIN!!!

Sunday rolled around and Jason was meant to be coming to work on Booger Mobile.  Damian didn't believe Jason would remember, so was reading the paper when Jason arrived!!

Today was the day for decisions about the head issues...

and the decision was... OFF WITH THE HEAD!!  (Again... lolsigh)

First up, drop the coolant on the well-watered weeds out the front of Damian's shed...

Jason brought his miniature rattle gun with him, so after cracking the bolts by hand, they were easy to rattle out of there!!

Head removed, and inspection undertaken... seems that there is a bit of a crack in the exhaust manifold also - hopefully nothing too serious.

Keep these in order - it's important!!

Two spare heads were being taken with the one from Booger Mobile to Dave at Wadnot Joinery, who was going to organise for the head issues to be sorted out.  One from the original 200 6cyl engine, and one spare 250 head.

The block looks great - no issues there, which is a bonus!!  (Touch wood!!)

One of the stops was to visit Jason't father in law, who just happens to have a spare-parts XP Falcon in his yard...  Check that out - it has an exhaust manifold!!

After striking trouble on a couple of bolts, it was decided to leave it there and collect it if the one on the head from Booger Mobile couldn't be salvaged.

The heads were delivered to Dave, and it was decided that there was too much work to be done on the 200 head (it's a high compression head that would need some CNC machining to reduce compression - a good option if the other one is completely useless, but a lot of effort if it's not).

With the 2012 esCarpade less than 4 months away, it's really time to get cracking on the car!!

Stay tuned...

Publicity - Caboolture Shire Herald article

Article from the Caboolture Shire Herald - Tuesday 5 June 2012, regarding the donation from the Rebels Motorcycle Club Caboolture.

Nice write-up!!

Donation - Rebels Motorcycle Club Caboolture

Regular blog readers would remember Damian taking Booger Mobile to the First Annual Big Fish Tattoo, Hot Rod and Bike Show...

Damian received a call during the week that his suggestion of Camp Quality for beneficiary for their event had been accepted, and that they would like to donate some money!!  This made Damian very happy!!

Damian arranged for a photographer from the Caboolture Shire Herald and some representatives of both the Rebels Motorcycle Club Caboolture and the Big Fish Tavern to meet him at the Big Fish Tavern for a photo opportunity.

Tricia came along for the ride as official photographer for the Booger Mobile Blog...  Here's the cow next door watching closely...

Out the driveway...

Up the road...

Onto the highway and up to the Big Fish exit...

Into the Big Fish Tavern...

But wait...  Damian realises that he has forgotten the thank-you certificates... with time on his side, he rings the representatives from the Rebels (who were already at the Tavern) and explains that he'll be back shortly...  Back out onto the road...

Down the highway...

Home to grab the certificates, then back up the highway to the Big Fish exit (with a distinct sense of deja vu)...

Turning into the Big Fish Tavern... again...

Into the carpark...  again...

Reversing onto the grass...

The photographer sorted out angles and lighting etc...

One of the Rebels had positioned his bike...

But it would be better around this side, says the photographer!!

Jan from Riding for the Disabled Queensland was also there - they were also beneficiaries of some of the funds.

More photo testing...

And finally, everyone in for a photo!!

Damian thanked Curtis from the Big Fish Tavern... he was smiling, but looks very serious in this action shot!!

He also thanked the Rebels Motorcycle Club Caboolture for their generous donation...

Once it was all said and done, it was back down the highway...

And back home.

Readers who live in Caboolture and surrounding areas, keep an eye out in the Caboolture Shire Herald for Booger Mobile - it should be in Tuesday 5 June 2012 (all going well).

Wait, what?  You want to know how much the donation was?  Drumroll please...

The Rebels Motorcycle Club Caboolture donated an amazing

THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS

to Camp Quality. 

This has brought Team Booger Mobile's 2012 total to just under $6000, this means that they have now raised the minimum donation amount to enter the esCarpade... onward and upward from here!!