[Talon]

I got my engine/transmission picked up a few days ago and brought into the shop. Engine is put together "loose", it wasn't in a running donor, it was pulled several years ago and has been in a shop for a while. It is loose and turns over smoothly, I don't see any rust/corrosion/broken parts etc. and it looks like it is mostly there, and the price was right (FREE!).

I plan to re-build it anyway, so wear and tear I can handle. Here are a few obvious things I noticed so far on this unfamiliar-to-me engine. . .

1) Cam sprocket will need replaced. It looks like it was run with the cam sprocket bolt loose and the center hole is wallowed out. The end of the cam and the bolt look good though, and a degreed cam sprocket is one of the upgrades I want to do anyway.

2) Engine sure doesn't weigh much. I grabbed it by the ends and picked it up out of the pickup bed and carried it into the garage without getting my dress pants dirty. Anyone know what these things actually weigh? I'd guess the long-block to be 110 pounds? The transmission was a one hand affair to pick up and carry to the garage, 40 pounds maybe?

3) The axle shafts were not with the engine, so I guess I'll need to get those somewhere. Anyone know if they are the same side to side? (Will the splines line up on both sides.) I am going to need to fabricate axles anyway, so I only need the inner CV and enough shaft to cut/weld to. I'm not sure what I am doing with the outside hubs yet. . .

4) The wiring harness and computer was obvious by it's absence. I have read that the computer is one of the biggest differences between standard and XFi engines. Anyone know what I'll lose with a standard ECU? I am planning to build a fully independent engine control system, but would kinda like to get it running and on the road first the simplest way possible initially. Maybe I can fabricate an intake manifold and put a carb on it initially to get it on the road. (I've always wanted to try a progressive gang of Walbro cube-carbs.) The distributor looks like it has vacuum and centrifugal advance/retard, so a carb should work OK, and then I wouldn't need any ECU/wiring harness until I get into the independent system.

5) The front timing belt cover is missing. Also it looks like the belt tensioner may be broken.

6) Transmission is light and feels tight. I see the normal road gunk on it, but don't see obvious leakage anywhere to indicate bad seals. The shifter appears to be one shaft? I think I found all 5 gears and a reverse. Making a cable shifter may be kinda tricky. The shaft is pointing out to the rear, which is what it should do in the original car, and requires both push/pull and twist it appears. In my rear engine setup, the shaft will be pointing towards the back bumper, so I'll need something to completely reverse the inputs and put them on the other side of the engine and forward around 3-4 feet, while hopefully keeping something that still resembles and H pattern. I'm gonna have to think on that one. . . any ideas?

This weekend I hope to get a chance to pull the head and check the cylinder walls for wear. Also, I'll turn the head upside down and see if the combustion chambers will hold some diesel fuel overnight. I might get by without having to rebuild the head. Just some porting and smoothing and call it good. I also want to measure the cam to verify that it is an XFi. (under 40mm lobes = XFi / over 40mm = standard)

Also, does anyone know how to verify the XFi transmission? I have read about ways to test in the vehicle, but mine isn't in the vehicle.

Anyway, lots of questions that need answers and thought. . .

TALON §