67 ‘survivor’ question
 

I have a 67’ Firebird 400 convertible that I consider ‘survivor’ (original, unrestored drivetrain, interior, body, etc).

The motor has never been removed from the car. Although it runs wonderfully, it has a few leaks…rear main seal, tranny seals, exhaust manifold. I want to pull the motor and fix some of these leaks, but I also want to preserve its originality.

I can’t really fix the leaks without pulling the motor and tranny.

Am I opening a can of worms? Would you pull the motor to fix these leaks? If so, would you simply replace leaky gaskets and then reinstall motor and tranny WITHOUT painting the motor?

Thanks for your input!

If you can live with the leaks, just leave it alone and put an oil pan under it. That is of course if you don't plan on driving it very far. I do think there's a middle ground. You can freshen up a motor with an oil pan gasket, head gaskets etc., and whatever easy things you can change. Changing rings at that point is really committing to a full rebuild. The are some in here that can do that with their eyes closed, but that's not me. If it's you, then do the rings... and bearings... and lifters... It really depends on what you plan to do with the car and how much you are going to drive it, and of course, how much it leaks. Valve cover leaks are the easiest to fix and can look like an oil pan leak. Wash the motor and figure out where it's leaking.

That's what I would do pull it re gasket it and reinstall, UNLESS you see something that you should address, valve job? Rings? Few crappy bearing shells?
Any pictures of the vehicle?

I'm with everyone else, I'd take it out and address the leaks. If the RMS is leaking, that pretty much means the crank has to come at least partially out. At that point, if you see abnormal or excessive wear on the bearings, that's when I'd probably say it's time for a rebuild. That's how my brain would function anyhow. I wouldn't want to put it back together to save the patina, then have the engine die and need to come out again anyhow.

Plan to just do the seals (and a timing chain since you're going to be in there) but budget for a basic rebuild. I really believe that people appreciate a survivor with known good mechanicals. Even if that means the near 60 year old engine needed a refresh. Besides, the quickest way to put that patina back into the engine, is to drive it a lot. Pretty good excuse if you're asking me.

Replace external gaskets and the main seal. Probably needs a timing chain, do that.

Don’t paint the engine if preservation of its originality is your aim.

If it’s running well (not smoking, consuming oil at a high rate or making funny noises) don’t rebuild it, don’t fix what isn’t broken.

This thread is worthless without pictures. ;)

Yes, this. Without pictures, it's like it doesn't actually exist!

Like a recent thread about air cleaner stickers and originality, survivor stuff, even for pure historic value, is really cool stuff!

ive got a similar deal with a judge i bought as a youngster with low 30k miles on it. it literally had nothing changed but the wheels (lucky he still had them on the original tires with no miles on them) 40 something years later its got 50k on it now and had a weird deal that the cam bearing started peeling itself out. i made the decision to take it apart and put it back together with no painting. unfortunately with the new gaskets you can tell its been apart. i thought about oiling the exposed edges when back together and letting it get dirty or trying to ruff them up, really not smart enought to know how to hide it.

I’m also in the same boat. I have a 67 Bird with 26k original miles. The engine has never been out of the car and has only had tune ups done. The rear main seal has been leaking for decades, but that doesn’t worry me as much as the nylon timing gear. Years ago the nylon timing gear broke on a my 70 Olds and I bent a few valves. After installing new gears and chain the engine ran very rough. Drove it around for a few months and then got rid of the car.

Thanks for the input!

Engine runs incredibly well. I do not feel the engine needs a rebuild at all. No smoke, smooth idle and plenty of power. Just some oil leaks on garage floor from rear main and some tranny leaks. I was going to pull engine just to dry up the leaks. It does have an exhaust leak around the passenger exhaust manifold, but nothing major.

I could drive this car for years without pulling this motor, but she does leak some oil.

My main question was whether I should pain the motor ‘if’ I decide to pull. Sounds like painting the engine is not a good idea.

This is exactly what I am concerned about. New gaskets will be hard to hide.

Original engine patina should be preserved for a true survivor.

Once you paint the engine you lose that properly aged look forever.

If you can live with the oil leaks then leave well enough alone.

Although replacing the original freeze plugs might be wise before they rust through.

Oil pan gaskets won’t be that obvious, which need to be done to replace the rear seal. New valve cover gaskets really aren’t easily seen, at least you can do those. Engine mounts if they’re oil soaked and gone bad should be replaced. Don’t even think about removing the heads.

Nice car. It'd look good sitting next to my gold on black GTO..

I'd leave it alone and pour some blue devil rear main sealer in it.

nice car! Thanks for posting pics. you could try retorqing problem area's may help or may not help, could be an easy fix. I had to replace transmission seal on my car mostly because I got tired of cleaning the garage floor.

My garage floor is trashed..

If the body had a repaint , repaint the engine.
Bonafide factory exterior paint - don't paint engine.

Intake manifold gaskets will be the only ones that will really show as new ,
doesn't sound like you need to pull the intake.

You'll be a lot happier with the car if you fix all the leaks.
I'd want the engine out to remove the exhaust manifolds.

Beautiful car. Even has the clear rimmed steering wheel. Nice!

Custom trim option ?
Build month?

I see custom trim clue with the dash grab handle.
- also see power windows, floor clock, column shift

RJP_Gen1 , could you do a picture of your trim tag ?
They have been trying to narrow down some date ranges for the half-clear steering wheel.

very nice car congrats

Wonderful car, I'd only be doing what is absolutely necessary to keep it running well.

I'd only be replacing gaskets if it's an absolute fact you KNOW exactly where the leak is coming from.

Mission creep is very hard to avoid once you dig in to a certain point.