Engine is out...anything I should be sure to do??

[87LtdT]

Gonna replace water pump, all hoses, cam gear, chain and cam button. Thermostat is only about 5 years old so think I'll leave it. Changed springs a year ago.

Anything else??

Thanks, Bob

 

[Ken Cunningham]

Clean and detail the engine compartment. Consider new motor mounts, there are a couple of options to go there. Ground relocation so you don't have that PITA attachment at the p/s head. I don't know why you have the engine out, but if your rear main seal is leaking, it's way easier to do on an engine stand. While you're doing the front cover, there are oiling improvements possible. Lou Czarnota drills out the oil passages in the cover. A Melling oil pump with HD spring *used* to be de rigor, but some people now say that the stock oil system is fine.

 

[Russ Merritt]

Yea, I'd match the head intake ports with the gasket, clean up the intake around the injector ports, new Clevite main & rod bearings with new factory bolts, check the front cover for wear, if OK drill the main feed out to 1/2", deburr the passages, new melling pump gears, set end clearance at .002, If the cam gear broke apart, change the oil pick up screen, new valve springs & seals and have a BLAST doing it! RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TR Custom Parts]

You might also want to check your pass side upper control arm bushings to see what kind of shape they are in, especially the rear one that gets cooked by the downpipe. Just a thought, lot easier to do with the engine out!

 

[buickboy]

The only thing i regret was not building a quick disconnect harness for the starter and installing the starter on the motor while on the stand with the harness attached. You will see what i mean if you don't.
Mitch