I just put the oil pump and new seals together on the engine. Tell me if you think or know that I'm crazy. I'm playing with the idea to actually idle the engine and run at 2000 rpm to test the oil pressure with mechanical oil pressure gauge before installing the cross arm. Of course, w/o the cross member, the engine will not sit on her mounts. It will be suspended by a chain above, hooked on the thermostat houseing hook. Both the exhaust and intake sides of the engine will be suspended to the side of the engine bay to limit side to side movement. The test will only last a few minutes. Do you think that this is a good thing to do or a big NO NO.

While I was doing the oil pump, I didn't just lower the cross member. I actually took the opportunity to replace all the oil rubber bushings with poly ones from IPD. So, the cross member, the 2 control arms and a few other pieces of front suspension are laying on my garage floor. Eventhough I do know that the grease and grime on the parts is good for rust prevention, I still can't resist my Excessive Compulsive Behavier when it comes to dirty parts. I end up cleaning all of them to sparkly clean. I can not put it back together without new rust treatment. Otherwise, I'll be worse off by cleaning the whole thing. There are a few surface rust spots on the suspension parts, otherwise look brand new. What do you guys do in such satuition? What material do you use and how do you rust proof it? Thanks. Erwin