1992 Loyale EJ swap + battle conversion progress

[CompanyMan]

A number of weeks ago I posted a couple random questions and today I'm here to update you on the rig I'm building with and for my nephew. First off thanks to this awesome site and its members for assisting in almost every step so far.

 

A while back I did some work for a friend and afterward he threw this Loyale at me for free because it was just taking space, had engine problems, and a broken rear hatch glass. I did diagnose a blown head pretty quickly during some high speed forest trail testing that may or may not have also caused another broken window in addition to some subtle impacts to the rocker panels and a torn cv. After the field test I went ahead and added it to the row of cars behind my dads barn that he definitely doesn't hate. He has a pretty specific "wtf?" face that is visible from about 100 yards. Fast forward to a few months ago my nephew is about to graduate an apprentice electrician program, has already been hired by a job starting in January, and he needs something he can drive to work here in town for a year or two till he can afford his own car. He's commented multiple times that he "loves that shitty looking wagon parked behind the barn" so I decide it's time for him to learn how a car is put together and how to maintain his very own "shitty wagon" as he put it. So Dec 1st I get the Loyale on the trailer super early and I'm at the shop by 7am. All I gotta do is clear out my 2 stalls and then I can dig in. At exactly 7:58 am I pick up a leaf spring pack that I didn't realize had what I assume to be a missing 10mm socket jammed between two leaves. As I sat the pack down whatever it was came free causing the pack to quickly close on the tip of my thumb on my left hand (non-dominant). After slumping to the floor and briefly wondering if this is how my life ends I pulled myself together and grabbed a 3/4 wrench within reach which I used to pry my thumb free. After that I did the smart thing and went home to take a 4 hour nap. Long story short (hah) after my nap the subsequent ER visit showed a fractured thumb in 3 places. Definitely a great start to the new project.

 

So I was forced to sit back and instruct my nephew over the last 8 weeks while my mangled, nearly severed thumb was healing. Ate a burger and pointed at things while my nephew pulled the engine, sub frames, he did the timing belt + pump, seals and gaskets all around (engine, trans, diffs), thinned out the wiring harness, auto locker in rear, wired a new stereo and speaker set, tons of other menial tasks, and finally he learned the birds and the bees when it comes to engines and transmissions getting it on. Resulting in the beautiful union between an EJ22 and a 5 speed dual range. Kid has learned a lot in the evenings after work and I've enjoyed a lot of sitting in rolling chair with a beer and a laser pointer. Yesterday was the first day I actually pushed my mental and physical capabilities by getting into the shop before 1pm. As my left hand gripped my harbor freight ratchet that I should warranty soon, I could feel the strength returning to my mostly healed but still kinda stings a bit sometimes thumb and within no time I had the engine and trans mounted with the SJR 4" lift. Next I made short work of a 6 lug conversion front and back, ending the night with the front suspension done and front wheels on. Today I had to run a bunch of errands and shop for groceries which that is a separate blog so I can't get into it here but I did manage to swing by the shop for a few hours and get the rear sub frame installed with wheels on and the weight dropped. Leading to a picture needing to be taken, and a forum post needing to be composed. I'll be sure to update one more time when she drives out of the shop.

Sincere thanks again to this sub. Would have beat my head against the wall quite a bit without yall. (still might tho)

[kayakertom]

That's a nice, bright and heated shop!

No thumb photo?

[CompanyMan]

3 hours ago, kayakertom said:

That's a nice, bright and heated shop!

No thumb photo?

This is the only pic I took right after it got pinched. Doesn't look like much. I refuse to take a photo now. No thumbnail. It's gross and I mostly pretend it's not there.

[el_freddo]

What an adventure! I’m not entirely sure how the leaf spring but you like that, either way not good! 

The build is looking good! What tyres are they? I’m not sure if they’ll be available over here, I’m keeping an eye out as I’ll need a new set of tyres for my lifted L once the five stud conversion is completed. 

Keep up the good work! Looks like you’ve still  got a lot of work to do with the door cards being out of the vehicle atm. 

Cheers 

Bennie