In addition to the points that have already been made about the oil pan and oil
screen, I really like your idea and willingness to clean out the inside of the
valve covers and the rocker trains.
One problem that I have seen in old dirty engines is that the oil drain holes
can plug up, and as the engine runs, the oil builds up in the top end, starving
the rest of the engine for oil. A lot of oil can accumulate in those giant Hemi
valve covers. Eventually, the oil seeps down through the valve guides fouling
out the spark plugs, or pushes out through the valve cover gaskets to burn and
smoke on the exhaust manifolds.
The cylinder head drain holes can be rodded out very easily with a wire, or
even a straightened out coat hanger. Examining the amount of crud built up in
the top end will tell you a lot about the kind of maintenance the car may have
had before it was parked. Even in 45,000 miles there could be a lot of build up
there if the car wasn't properly maintained.
Paul
In a message dated 4/9/2004 11:16:35 PM Eastern Daylight Time, PNKMoore writes:
>
>
> Hugh:
>
> Thanks for your note about starting the "dead" engine. I'm psyched to put
> some marvel into the cylinders, and plan to get that done before the weekend
>is
> out. I agree with your advice about letting sleeping crud lie.
>
> I took half a day today and washed that car for all I was worth, and it's
> still dirty. Wow. 27 years of dirt takes more than an afternoon. I
>conquered
> the engine compartment, however, and got most of the glass clean. I used a
> pressure washer and cleaned out the trunk, which had been a squirrel's next.
> Totally nasty, and no drain holes in the trunk floor! I couldn't believe
>that.
> The car is outside tonight (safely stowed behind a fence) trunk gaping, so
>all
> of the water that I couldn't mop out can dry. I got all of the body panels
> with the pressure washer and one good pass with a hand wash, but it needs
>more.
> I didn't even look at the interior.
>
> And I'm still having fun. This is a small town and I've been yapping about
> this car for weeks. A bunch of people stopped by when they saw me working on
> it. Funny thing, not one of them offered to help! I'll be getting used to
> that, I can tell.
>
> I pulled the spare. I think it's from the original showroom set, given the
> very low miles (45,000), but it's horribly worn. I was bummed to see that, it
> indicating to me that the previous owners deferred maintenance. I've heard
> that they were like that.
>
> I'll press on, and keep you posted. And no, I haven't tried to drain the oil
> yet. At least I'll finally have a reason to like my skinny forearms.
>
> Patrick, '58 4 dr Southampton,
> Southeast Louisiana.
>
>
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