<VV> Engine Pull (was: Possible 2010 Convention events)

[Vairtec at optonline.net]

At 05:36 PM 8/19/2008, Western Canada CORSA wrote:

>Too bad we can't to the engine pull event.  That would at least give us in
>the "young" crowd a chance.  Our strong backs and enthusiasm making up for
>our lack of experience.

In the 70s, when we were young and stupid (we're not young any more), 
a friend and I decided to see how quickly we could execute a 
car-to-car Corvair engine swap.  In truth, we only needed to take the 
good engine from one car and replace the bad engine in another, but 
we decided to do a two complete swaps -- remove the engine from each 
car and re-install it in the other.

We cheated a little.  We did not begin timing ourselves until both 
cars were side-by-side, up on the jack stands.  We had all the 
necessary tools laid out and ready to go.  And we had a secret weapon 
at our disposal:  An industrial fork lift.

We stuck the forks under an engine, disconnected everything, lowered 
the forks and drove out with the engine.  We set that engine aside on 
a pallet, and removed the second engine, taking it directly to the 
first car and raising it into place.  When done we then raised the 
first engine into place into the second car.

Timing stopped when both engines were in their new homes and 
everything was re-connected.  Total time, 45 minutes.

Today, more than 30 years older, the two of us would have difficulty 
changing two TIRES in 45 minutes...

--Bob