[mogeo]

I plan on pulling the 400/TH400 from my car due to leaky rear main among other things. While I am there, I plan on the following:
Detail the engine, underhood, radiator etc
Changing the dreaded heater core, and working on the AC suitcase
Re gasketing the oil pan, valve covers, and a new water pump (weeping a bit)

What else would you recommend be done while i am this far?
This drivetrain was rebuilt about 11k miles ago. Runs well otherwise. Performance is good (13.7 at 101) but not a race car just a cruiser.

I notice some oil/ dirt around where the heads and block meet and in the valley pan area but was told they "all do that."
Should I replace the timing chain?

Thanks,
Rich

[Qball]

While you have it out, it sure isn't a bad idea to at least inspect the timing chain for slop depending on the mileage.

[Firebob]

You might do any suspension work that needs to be done in the front. Sure is a lot easier to get to with the motor out.

[77 TRASHCAN]

11,000 miles, but how many years.. ago???

Everything is way easier to do on an engine, when it's on a stand. Yes, I' yank the intake and re-seal the valley pan. I don't use gaskets on the valley pan, they all seem to leak. RTV works fine, there. Look at the cam lobes to make sure none of them are shiny all the way across.

I'd at least look at the timing chain. If you replace it make sure the gears line up the way the current ones do. Seems to be a lot of mis-manufactured timing parts these days.

Freeze plugs are impossible to change in the car. Not knowing how old your build is, this is at least a maybe.

BOP engineering makes a one piece rear main seal, and a one piece pan gasket, and neither are terribly expensive, if you didn't have knowledge of them!

[70 bird]

Stroker kit.

[mogeo]

Thanks for the replies!!
11k miles over about 9 years ago.

Suspension already done.

Freeze plugs look good. Not leaking. Anything else I should look for there as a sign of pending doom?

I will look at the timing chain for slop.

Thanks for the advice about the intake / valley pan. I will look at the cam lobes.
Besides scoring on the lobes, what else to look for? Shiny all the way around? What would that mean?

Stroker kit?!! Ive been dreaming about it. But divorce is waaaaay more expensive

[steve25]

If the block drain plugs on each side of the motor have not been changed over to Brass, now's the time!