Great tips thus far!! Thanks. Andy
> > Andy
>
> These are just personal opinions, mine, many may agree, just as many may > disagree.
>
> If at all possible, car wash , and clean engine bay.
>
> a bunch of small paper bags and a marker, for bolts as they are removed, put
> them in a bag and mark them.
>
> Scribe a line around the hood hinges before removing them, or use a fine
> point sharpie marker.
>
> Remove the grill.
>
> On the AC, I would have it discharged. Yes the AC compressor can be moved
> far enough out of the way to do it that way, but you are stressing the hoses
> and crimps that are over 10 years old, and what if you slip and punch a hole
> in the condenser? course you could put a sheet of plywood cut the right
> size to protect the condenser, but removing it makes life a bit easier. >
> On the water pump, why not put it on before you put the engine in place? In
> fact the more you put on the engine before it goes in the hole the easy it
> will be after it is in the hole. And along with the new water pump, get a
> good quality heavy duty fan clutch. The right one will be about 2.5 inches
> thick, square shouldered and about 6-8 inches in diameter with a
> thermostatic coil spring on the front.
>
> Replace the motor mounts.
>
> Thin coat of quality gasket sealer anywhere its needed, but only where its
> needed. Don't skimp on gaskets. For the manifolds, use a torque wrench.
> Short handled 1/4 inch ratchet with the extension between the index and
> center finger and you wont over tighten the valve covers, oil pan or timing
> chain cover crushing the gaskets and ending up with leaks.
> If you reuse the harmonic balancer, get a repair sleeve for it so the front
> seal doesn't leak.
>
> Get some bolts 2-3 inches longer than the bottom bolt on each side of the
> tranny, cut the heads off, thread them into the block, makes lining up the
> engine to the tranny a lot easier. If there is enough clearance between the
> tranny and the fire wall, four, two on each side is even better. >
> when you rent the engine hoist, rent an adjustable engine sling, again it
> makes the job a lot easier.
>
> Get new bolts for the flywheel to torque converter, and blue lock tight. >
> While the engine is out, replace the front pump seal on the tranny. >
> A polaroid or digi camera is a great tool when you don't do this for a daily
> living, after two days the memory starts getting fogged, pictures clear the
> fog. Oh and beer is good, beer is great, but at the end of the day, not
> during the job.
>
> Engine oil, tranny fluid, power steering fluid, air filter, oil filter, cap,
> rotor, wires, plugs, fuel filter, brake clean, hand cleaner, rags, cat
> liter, parts cleaning brush. couple cans of paint, might as well pretty up
> the engine bay before the new engine goes in. Don't forget collector
> gaskets for the headers, or new donuts if you meant exhaust manifolds. New
> serp belt, and tensionor.
>
> Make sure somebody is there with you when your working and that they check
> on you regularly if your doing this solo, don't want to read no obit.
> And of course hand in hand with that is if you don't have jack stands, get
> some, never ever trust a jack, life is too short.
>
> Whitelightning
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