Ok, I guess this weekend I will be pulling my whole engine cradle, cleaning the engine compartment up painting it the right color. I figure I would pull the engine, since I am going to clean it up nicely and replace a few things on it. Any recommendations on what I should "fix" (preventative maintanance)/replace/paint, etc? I plan to clean, rustproof and paint all the pink to bright white and make it look much better. BTW, I do have expierience as I rebuilt a 3100 in a corsica.

What is that stuff that you spray on rust, that turn it black and gives you a paintable surface?

Make sure to pull your battery tray and take care of the rust under there. I guarantee it'* there, it'* a trouble spot for water.
As long as you have the cradle out, you should think about doing all your subframe and suspension bushings, seeing as they'll be all convenietly within reach...

are you talking about naval jelly? they should have it at napa, or wallmart

It'll be nice and easy to replace the water pump while you have it out, and $30 or so. Maybe the timing chain, too? It'* as good a time as any. Put a new cam sensor magnet in there, too.

W/P has already been replaced. Not sure about the timing chain or Cam sensor.

Pull the exhaust manifolds, inspect for cracks, port them, and use the DIY ceramic coating I used.

Rust Mort.

What is that stuff that you spray on rust, that turn it black and gives you a paintable surface?


It'* called Extend. It turns a rusty surface to a solid black surface through a chemical reaction. It can be primed. It'* great stuff[/url]

Change out the coolant elbow. They like to go out every 80k.

Replace the rear main seal on the engine. Even if it'* not leaking yet do it anyway. To change it, the engine or transition must be removed. It'* the only way to change that $4 seal.

Single-handedly, that'* the most important thing to replace.