three months

When you are looking at your car's engine suspended vertically by a single chain, all kinds of thoughts occur to you. One is, wow, mechanics have it tough. Then again, mechanics don't work in small garages, by themselves, and without a lift.

Another immediate thought is, how in the hell am I gonna flip this chunk of metal that weighs hundreds of pounds? But, when there is a will, there is a way. Dropping the engine repeatedly on an ever-increasing array of 2x4s, I managed to point the valve cover in the "up" direction. Good. Why was my engine standing on its side to begin with? I found that this made attaching the transmission infinitely easier. Then again, part of my problem was that I had the clutch plate facing the wrong way - and believe me, the transmission housing does not want to attach itself if you do that.

Taking a quick survey of my cut-up and permanently oil-stained fingers, miscellaneous bruises, and strained muscles, one might ask, was it worth spending three months doing something that a mechanic could do in a few days? I'd say, absolutely. Even if I manage to completely f up my car, the amount of stuff that I've learned couldn't have come any other way. And it wasn't all mechanical knowledge, either - take Susan's infinite patience with my project, for one. I'd start asking questions a long time ago ;)