What to do when you've pulled your engine/tranny

[joeymarkgraf]

Hey Folks,

Since I've got a few oil leaks in my 81 C10, and the entire engine is covered in a greasy oil sludge, I've decided to pull it out to replace a bunch of seals & gaskets. I know that I could do all of this with the engine in, but I'd like to get access to everything, as well as paint a few parts in the engine compartment.

So I'm going to try to nail down the oil leaks by replacing the oil pan gasket, rear main seal, & valve cover gaskets. It seems as if most of the oil build up is below the valve covers and on the cross member below the oil pan.

Is there anything else that I should look at/replace while its out? Any tips? Thoughts? What would you do?

Thanks for everyone's time!

[Pyrotechnic]

Timing cover gasket and front seal. Fuel pump gasket. If your water pump has some age to it, it might not be a bad time to replace it. It's also a good time to flush out the radiator, heater core, and run some water through the coolant ports on the engine so you will have all new water and coolant when you start again. If you've kept up the cooling system then don't worry about it.

Check your valve covers for flatness, but there is a very good chance they are probably warped from being torqued down. A new set of thick stamped steel or cast aluminum valve covers plus some load spreaders would be a good investment.

[smashingchuck]

Use a one piece oil pan gasket. They are expensive, but worth it... fel-pro makes them.

[Square84]

Since You Got The Tranny Out Think About Replacing The Front Pump Seal. They Are A Real Pain To Do Once Everything Is Back In The Truck.

[Square84]

Also Check The Freeze Plugs Just In Case.

[SBellew]

Degrease your engine compartment and all those steering parts under the engine and make it look all nice and shiny again

[MylilBowTie]

I would replace the rubber brake lines in the front.

[piecesparts]

Have you thought about doing a basic rebuild, while it is on the engine stand. You are already there and the bearings are just calling your name. Look at the oil pump, also.

[babyJay]

New Vacuum lines, paint firewall/engine bay/frame rails/crossmember. I also second the mention of the trans front seal.

[MylilBowTie]

Engine mounts would also be a good idea.

[454HO]

Originally Posted by joeymarkgraf

Is there anything else that I should look at/replace while its out? Any tips? Thoughts? What would you do?

Just realize you are opening a big can of worms. You can always find something else to replace... while you are there. Try not to fall into the trap of fixing things that aren't broken just for the sake of convenience. It is easy to get overwhelmed and loose interest, or possibly go broke before you finish the project.

Make a list of things to check. Don't buy any parts until you know you need them. Replace only what makes sense to replace. And set a specific budget and time limit to get it complete. You may not follow it, but it give you a goal to shoot for.

[joeymarkgraf]

Originally Posted by 454HO

Just realize you are opening a big can of worms. You can always find something else to replace... while you are there. Try not to fall into the trap of fixing things that aren't broken just for the sake of convenience. It is easy to get overwhelmed and loose interest, or possibly go broke before you finish the project.

Thanks for the slap of common sense. Everybody needs one now and again. I've got a list and a budget, so now I need to commit to the time. I'm having my younger brother down for a trip to watch the drag races on Sunday, so we're going to do most of it on the Saturday before the races.

So far, I've seen that valve cover gaskets, oil pan gasket, and rear main need to be replaced. I'm going to assume the timing cover and front seal need to be done too(oil around and under them), so those are added to the list. Engine mounts are half gone, and all the vacuum lines need to be replaced, so those too. Water pump looks good, so I'm gonna let it sit for now.

I'm planning to get in there and degrease and paint, making sure that I do it right while I'm there. Thanks for everybody's advice, it really helps out!



Also, Anybody have a magic degreaser formula? I'm using the Castrol's Super Clean Degreaser, it works "ok" with a bunch of elbow grease... Would it help to put the bottle in warm water to heat it up a bit?

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by joeymarkgraf

Also, Anybody have a magic degreaser formula? I'm using the Castrol's Super Clean Degreaser, it works "ok" with a bunch of elbow grease... Would it help to put the bottle in warm water to heat it up a bit?

I did a really nasty 86 Short 2wd 10 last summer. On the frame rails and crossmember I found that a pan of kerosene and coarse scrub brush worked great for the heavy stuff. You can follow up that with your Castrol, and a lot of rinsing if you want the paint to stick. Then some laquer thinner where you want a quality finish.

[joeymarkgraf]

Have you thought about doing a basic rebuild, while it is on the engine stand. You are already there and the bearings are just calling your name. Look at the oil pump, also.

No, what does a "Basic" rebuild consist of/cost?

[piecesparts]

"Basic rebuild" to me would be a new set of main and rod bearings, cam shaft bearings, oil puump, timing chain, gasket set, piston rings, with a glazing hone run through the cylinders. I would also consider a little better profile of a cam, too. I would also have the valves pulled and resurfaced with the guides and seals refurbished. That is the bare basics, from there if you need to bore the cylinders and get different pistons, then you step up a little on cost. It can be done at all levels of cost. There are a fair amount of outlets that sell basic rebuild kits for a variety of prices. My machine shop buddy can get them and sells them to me at a little over his cost---If I am doing my own wrenching. Look at Summit Racing, Jegs or Northern Parts for kits. I am here to tell you, if you pull it, then think of the things that you can do to it.

[Kixwy2]

When I did my engine swap I used some nasty degreaser I bought at Walmart - came in an orange can. It worked great with a pressure washer. I cleaned out the entire engine bay with it, and it was really handy when I was busy trying to replace the motor mounts and messing with the bolts on the crossmember.

I second the motor mount replacement. Relatively cheap and a good idea. My buddy had a broken motor mount that he ignored, and hit the curb in his truck... sent the fan through the radiator which tossed pieces all over the engine bay. He was stranded in Sacramento for about 2 days...

[joeymarkgraf]

Well, all the essential parts have been ordered. Now to pull the thing over the weekend. I'm thinking about renting a pressure washer, but pondering if I dare point the thing at the engine. Any tips, or is this a bad idea? (As long as take care not to get water in anything.)

[ont_guy_38]

Originally Posted by MylilBowTie

I would replace the rubber brake lines in the front.

Very good thinking here if there is any signs of wear on these lines cuz they are a pain with the drivetrain in and also the front tranny seal like was suggested in another reply

[boatpuller]

hey,a fellow beaver believer...................cool

[gchemist]

Keep going!

[ont_guy_38]

[QUOTE=gchemist;2726696]Keep going!

LOL...been there done that...you think well i got it this far i might as well!!!!!!!!!!!