Questions that should not be asked

[RobertKB]

OK, now I have your attention. I do have some questions I should not ask as I know the answers I will be given and I know that I will likely agree with them.

The situation, I am having my '48 Dodge D25 repainted. It has been done but there are issues with the paint through no fault of my painter and they will get sorted out. The front clip is off the car right now and I am replacing my radiator with a better one that has been tested and is good to go. I have pulled the old radiator and have easy access to the engine.

Question 1 - Looking at my front motor mount I can see that it is getting tired. Hell, I replaced it 30 years ago when I did this car. I have several new front motor mounts. Should I go through the agony of removal, propping up the engine, pulling the front motor support, and replace the rubber mount?

Question 2 - I have noticed for a while that there is a bit of black gunk coming from between the exhaust manifold and block, likely a minor leak. Access is really easy now as all I have to do is pull the inner fender. Do I go throught the agony of removing the manifolds (all 13 bolts/nuts and exhaust) now that access is easy or do I leave it for now so that I can easily scratch my new paint because I decided to leave the dirty manifold job for later? Do I have the manifolds surfaced?

No, I am not going to pull my water pump and water distribution tube as I did that recently, like 10 years ago. Don't even suggest it. It is not happening!

I know you will all have my best interests at heart and give me sound advice. Even though I know the answers, I want to hear what you think.

Thanks,

Robert

Edited December 8, 2009 by RobertKB

[JIPJOBXX]

Seems to me that if its open up to the world why not do it now????

[Greenbomb]

You should definitely wait until it's all back together so those two jobs will be REALLY difficult and it will be way more likely that you scratch up the new paint. Then there's the added bonus of being able to have the car down during better/prime driving weather.

But, you already knew all this!

Nyuk, Nyuk!

Flo

[Norm's Coupe]

I agree.. May as well take care of manifold gaskets and motor mounts now. It's a lot easier to do with the front clip off the car.

[RobertKB]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Those are the answers I knew I would get and had planned on doing the jobs anyway. Neither is a terrible job although removing the manifold can be a bear at times if bolts and/or nuts decide they want to cause problems. With the engine drained it is a good time to do the manifold. I know from experience that one job leads to another with these old cars. Just hope I stop before I re-restore the whole car. Just kidding............maybe.......

[Frank Elder]

:)When you take your manifolds off you might as well take the valve covers off too for inspection and cleaning. I'm sure after 10 years there is a little sludge in there.

[PatS....]

OR, it's a very old car...sell it and buy a Neon...newer and therefore much more reliable.

[randroid]

RobertKB,

Whatever you do, don't adjust your valves now! Wait until you need to jack the car, remove a wheel, make futile gestures towards removing the panel from the fender, and finish the job while suspended upside-down from the air cleaner in a cross-over toe hold while you attempt to patiently insert feeler gauges while the old cranium fills with blood! You'll need to repeat this several times when it comes time to turn the crank, but I can speak from experience when saying that by the time the job is done you might not be fit company for a sewer rat but the high you'll feel can be right there with eating Oleander leaves!

Go for it, Dude!

-Randy

[RobertKB]

RobertKB,

Whatever you do, don't adjust your valves now! Wait until you need to jack the car, remove a wheel, make futile gestures towards removing the panel from the fender, and finish the job while suspended upside-down from the air cleaner in a cross-over toe hold while you attempt to patiently insert feeler gauges while the old cranium fills with blood! You'll need to repeat this several times when it comes time to turn the crank, but I can speak from experience when saying that by the time the job is done you might not be fit company for a sewer rat but the high you'll feel can be right there with eating Oleander leaves!

Go for it, Dude!

-Randy

I would appreciate the high but there are other ways of obtaining that. Valves are good to go as they are not too quiet and not too noisy. Just the way I like them. It fall into the category of "Let sleeping dogs lie". I could actually re-restore this car but I don't think it would drive any better and I wouldn't like it anymore. It's a good driver and I intend to maintain it that way once the business with the paint has settled down. What I am doing now falls into the maintenance category.