planning ahead for painting

[sam z]

Hey,
I've bounced a few things around here lately (headers, cams, starters).

Either next spring or two springs from now (money, time, and initiative
will all rule) I'm gonna take the engine out and have the car painted.

When this occurs, I'm considering the route of leaving well enough
alone. Meaning, the engine runs well, a leak down test came back
with good results in spring. Besides re-gasketing the block, I don't really
plan on doing much more (besides the obvious of scrubbing and painting
the engine.

In an effort to plan ahead and line up tools, parts, people, and get
financially prepared, would anybody here consider looking at things a
little further (cam swap, timing chain swap)? The tranny will get
a new front pump seal but other than what I've mentioned I'm not
considering doing much of any thing else. The only real recommendation
I've gotten was to put new valve springs in (and that wasn't really
based upon a mechanical problem).

I'm rambling a little so let me apologize now, but I've always believed
a few things about older cars:
-Don't fix what's not broken
-Too many fingers can ruin the pie
-It doesn't serve these cars well to have them taken apart and put back together
a bunch of times.

I dunno. But, if you have advice I'd like to hear it.

-Sam

 

[SomeCarGuy]

Consider reinforcing the K where the steering box bolts on. Can flex a lot.

Sounds like you have a good plan on the regasketing.

 

[mcmopar]

Unless you are unhappy with its present level of performance I vote you leave it alone and just enjoy it. I went a bit too far on mine and now wish I had the time and resources to back it down just a smidge.

 

[sam z]

Thanks for the tips. Interesting on the k-frame.

 

[ACME A12]

I went a bit too far on mine and now wish I had the time and resources to back it down just a smidge.

...I see that you've been hitting the cough syrup again, MC... :lmao:

:jester:

 

[mcmopar]

Well, I could have said "just a skosh". :jester: If anything, I kinda wish I'd gone to the 3" Super Hemi Turbo mufflers to quiet it down just a tad. At the time I built it I wanted to drag race it some so I wanted the best flowing muffler I could get so I wouldn't have to mess with dropping the pipes or installing Race Readies in order to get open pipes. The 3" system with Magnaflows will flow plenty well enough so I don't have to open up the headers but it is just a bit too loud for my taste. One day I may install some quieter mufflers just to make it more bearable to cruise around in.