I've removed the engine to repair a broken cradle. (1993 xlt 4x4 with 302 and e40d)
Whilst out I would like to tackle any preventative maintenance items that would be difficult with it in place.

At a minimum I'm looking at a new oil pan, gasket and rear main seal.
current oil-pan shows early stages of rust near where the exhaust passes by.

Are there any other no-brainer maintenance items I should look into?
(engine ran well and had strong compression prior to removal)
Odometer reads approx 144,000.

Thanks in advance....again

 

Valve cover gaskets are a good idea, check the freeze plugs if they aren't in bad shape. Also check timing cover and water pump.

Maybe a good degrease and wash down, add some paint and It will look like a new engine

 

Put a new oil sending unit it...sits to the left of the oil filter.

 

X2 on sylver s suggestion. If I had my motor out I'd do a total refresh for good measure

 

New valve stem seals are a must. You don't want it to consume oil later on due to bad valve stem seals.

 

I plan on starting the refresh this weekend. New parts have been piling up on the doorstep.

Planning:
New Valve covers and gaskets (stock ones were a bit rusty)
New oil pan (hoping the chrome will outlas the painted steel)
New water pump and gaskets
New timing cover gaskets (snapped some bolts taking the pump off so I had to remove this anyway.
Rear main seal

Then once its back in and running I'll do the basic maintenance:
Cap/rotor, plugs, wires, etc

Still debating on a set of long tubes, I thought the factory exhaust was in better shape but I found some rotten spots.

Hopefully some pics of progress in the near future.

 

Add a new front seal while the timing cover's off. It's cheap, easy, and good insurance.

 

Thanks for the recommendation, I ended up cracking the timing cover, my fault for putting it in the press the wrong way..doh!

Spent most the morning scavenging the local salvage but I finally got the timing cover and new water pump installed.

Valve covers are also installed.

Oil pan is a no go. I ordered the proform chrome pan from jegs which supposedly filters by your vehicle but this pan kit is definately too shallow. The bolt pattern lines up but it interferes with the oil pump.
FWIW avoid this one:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Proform/778/66187K1/10002/-1
Perhaps its for a mustang?

Can anyone recommend a correct chrome oil pan for our motors?

 

I dont think there are no chrome pans for our trucks, that is an early truck and car pan, pre 80, 80-up trucks and later mustangs basically use the same pan, and while you have the pan off and the motor has some mileage, pull a main and a rod cap to see what the bearings look like, and pull the cover off the oil pump and see what it looks like.

 

Thanks,

It looks like I'll be going with an aftermarket painted pan then.
Do long tube headers eliminate the crossover pipe behind the oil pan? I would like to eliminate the crossover as that is where the previous pan rotted probobly due to the exhaust heat.
Stock manifolds did not have any gaskets, is this common?

Main Caps/bearings looked good.

The oil pump also looked good but I'm not sure what too look for other than something drastically worn out.

Thanks again