Do's don'ts tricks

adileo

adileo

Well-known member
I'm the first to admit, I am a novice and have learned a great deal from reading/studying this site.

Thought it would be good idea for folks to list some of their things they've learned:

Do - when changing water pumps: Use a 6 point socket, stainless steel bolts for the bolt in the lower water hose. Use a little grease to help hold the gasket in place when installing the new pumps.

Don't fill with antifreeze - use water until your sure you have no leaks.
 
Do - when installing fuel pump, do it while with the fuel pump stand attached. Much easier.
 
"Double check" to make sure you have installed your throwout bearing before install engine. It's easy to forget. I learned the hard way.
 
When installing your distribitor on your engine , cut heads off of 2 bolts of the proper size .put them in the holes for your distribitor to guide and align it up .turn the rotor as you slide the distr. in place install the 3rd bolt then remove the guide bolts and install the other bolts .
 
Don't strip down the light switch because you can't get the headlights to work, without first pulling the main fuse and cleaning the contacts. Amazed me that the car ran fine but the lights wouldn't work till I cleaned that up.
 
On the later flatheads with the fan mounted on an idler type of hub, don't forget to unscrew the plug and fill and drain every so often.
 
sunshine said:
When installing your distribitor on your engine , cut heads off of 2 bolts of the proper size .put them in the holes for your distribitor to guide and align it up .turn the rotor as you slide the distr. in place install the 3rd bolt then remove the guide bolts and install the other bolts .
Click to expand...

Another idea that I used last year was to use short carburetor studs instead of bolts - makes the WHOLE installation/alignment process so much easier. I don't replace them with bolts - I use studs for all front-mount distributors.

And the dang gasket stays in place while you fiddle-fart around with the whole gob of a mess (usually with the radiator in place) . . .
 
adileo said:
Do - when changing water pumps: Use a 6 point socket, stainless steel bolts for the bolt in the lower water hose.
Click to expand...

Also, use plenty of anti-seize when you put those stainless bolts back in. Most stainless bolts are Grade 2 --> they're soft and they gall really easily. So, while they're stainless, they are very easy to break-off.

When I have a situation where I need high strength stainless, then I go to ARP and other suppliers - but the cost gets VERY high.
 
When you install the rear main rope seal, remember to cut it "proud" and put on a dab of silicone on each surface before you tighten it in place.
 
Anytime you have the oil pan off , drill out the rivets that holds the dipstick boss to the pan and re seal it. And never ever install the pre 8ba one piece oil pan without first installing the flywheel.
 
When installing hard to reach spark plugs, use a piece of fuel hose usually 5/16" slip it over the spark plug, and use it like a flex driver It can also remove them after you've broken them loose, but sometimes it don't work as well
 
Always make sure the oil fill plug will come out before you remove the oil drain plug on granny's and rear ends.

Edit: I mean trannys but it might be wise on grannies as well! LOL
 
Last edited:
Always use you IPhone to take picture of any project as you take it apart so you will have a reference to put it back together.
 
When installing heads it helps to cut off a couple of old (long) head bolts to use as studs a to get it in place.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top