2000 SSEi Engine R&R

[SSEimatt93]

Well, unfortunately, a few weeks ago on a road trip to see a friend, I lost all oil pressure and quickly developed a bottom end knock. Luckily for me, I was only a few blocks from his house (105 miles from home), and was able to get to his place, were I rented a flat deck trailer. The following day, Sunday, we hit the road in his 3500 to come back to my place.
Spent a while trying to track down an engine, initially I found a S3 with GEN V SC for a fair price a few hundred miles away. After shipping, core charges, crate charges and other items to make this engine work, it was quite a bit above my budget. (Remember, I just bought this car at the end of May with 110,000 miles on the clock)
Last Friday, I located an L67 out of a 2000 SSEi with about 5000 less miles on it at a wrecker. They cut me a pretty good deal, it will arrive tomorrow. I already have a LIM gasket set, SC Gasket, O-rings, Fuel injector O-rings and a oil pan gasket. This engine was tested, 155-160 PSI in each cylinder and 50 PSI oil pressure. As with any used engine, its a roll of the dice, I am hopeful the wrecker I dealt with was awesome.
Here are some pictures for the project so far.
Started by removing the wiring harness, fuel rail, intake tube, Rad hoses, and heater hoses.
Then under the car, fighting with the rear exhaust manifold to Down pipe connection. NOTE* Impacts are almost useless on this, partially due to the angle in which you need to run at. Thanks to Andrew for an important piece of advice on this part (and several more pieces of information), I used a socket, universal joint to a long extension to a big breaker bar to snap these bolts free.
Then I removed the starter, flex plate bolts, un-plugged the knock sensors, Power steering pump and AC compressor (Left in car, just un-hooked from engine). Finally I removed the stupid backwards bolt on the bell housing, this took a helper and several extensions. Should be run to re-install.
After this I pushed the car into my garage. I had to remove the hood as I could not tilt it open far enough without it contacting my door motor. Not a big deal, its light. I then supported the engine. Removed the 15mm bolt on the engine mount (next to water pump) and ever so carefully removed the stud this bracket sits on too (again thanks Andrew). Removed the two bolts holding the engine mount bracket into the oil pan, and the 21mm bolt holding the bracket to the frame itself. Then it was as simple as remove the easy to get to bell housing bolts, with a bit of tension on my crane, I then separated the engine from the trans, and it was home free after that.
Upon removing the oil pan from the engine, I found not one but two connecting rods to be loose. Both bearings were damaged.
Here is the pictures so far, more to come soon. Should be on the road soon....yet again..

[maxi426]

Happy to see you're saving this car. Seems too many are being written off anymore.

[SSEimatt93]

The car is in excellent shape, other wise.
Would be a shame to write it off over this

[SSEimatt93]

Thursday the engine went into the car and was bolted up
Saturday I hooked everything up top and bottom, we had it running, but I didn't drive it.
Sunday I drove the car, it had some idle issue, and threw a PO131 SES. Did some research and found my EGR stove pipe may be the culprit as it is kinked in one spot pretty badly.