Well, step 1 really happened over the past 60 days as I busily prepared the shop for the install. It is now freshly sided on the outside with galvalum, thanks Andrew! And the inside has been insulated on all walls and the ceiling and OSB nailed up all round. Also I purchased a 15000 BTU construction heater. Makes a huge difference to working temp which is now around 8°C while outdoors its well below 0°.
As far as the truck itself goes, I pulled it in last week and let it thaw out for a few days. This morning I removed the bonnet, all connections to the V8 from above and the lower transmission crossmember, then the exhaust Y pipe. I've come to a halt at the moment as I have to go into town and get a 3/8 CV adapter, since the two I had were donated to the cause of the CDL shifter on my Disco II. So far, its been fairly easy, although rather filthy.
I took about 20 minutes to do comparisons of each of the engines and their wiring. I've decided to keep the air conditioning even though the fan in the cab needs a bit of work. It does work and a bracket to adapt it to the new engine should be relatively easy. Don't know how yet, but I'd like to keep the cruise control too. Time will tell... I've marked all the wires on the engine as it is going to be rebuilt and perhaps see a new life in an off-road buggy of some kind — or maybe my 80", although thats not likely.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll be looking at an empty engine bay and can then get going on part 2, removal of the transmission.
