So, I decide to pickup a spare 1955 223 engine and trans cheap from a guy who was rodding out his ride. (I'm staying all original with my '55 Custom Cab). I park it on my prestine driveway and cover it with a tarp. A year and a half later I decide its time to do something with the engine, pull the tarp off and find a three foot oil stain from the leaking engine and trans! Needless to say I was in big trouble with the wife.

I found the best product I have ever used to clean up the mess. It's called Pour-n-Restore oil stain remover. (Just google the name and it will come up). It pours like pancake mix. Let it dry for 6-8 hours and it becomes a powder that you just sweep up.

I did not have high hopes that I would be able to remove the stain because how long the oil had to seep down deep into the driveway and the fact that the oil was very dirty. One application made the stain COMPLETELY vanish.

 

Never mind.

 

topaz....great advice.
I am buying a 223 locally and wonder how much did you spend on yours? I heard this run and it sounded good/no smoke/ and comes with radiator/3 speed trans and shifter and driveshaft.......Bill

 

Hum, I wonder if this was a cerebral argument about the diverse benefits of keeping the truck or the companion, and yes, you should (and did) behave yourself.

 

I have a stupid question:

Your wife was ok with the ugly junk engine sitting out there for a year and a half, but is gripped about an oil stain?

Hmmmph - WOMEN!

 

Hi Walfords,
I purchased the complete 223 with trans for $100.00. Not sure what I have yet until I open it up but it turns freely. I would pay a premium if it was a running engine like you mentioned.

 

Well, to tell you the truth the wife wasn't happy with the engine on the driveway either, and I told her when I dragged it home it would be there only a couple of months, but you know how that goes. Having a light colored tarp helped. Anyway she is really very good about my hobby. October 05 was our 24 year wedding anniversary!

 

Thanks for the tip! Anything to help ease thing with the little woman...lol

Actually my ol' lady is pretty forgiving of my hobbies which makes for a good life.

As a teen my brother and I learned some valuable lessons about the fairer sex and car parts. We had a 360ci Ford hanging from a tree in the front yard for most of a summer as we were modifying a 60 F-100. I aways had an assortment of parts in my room and on my desk. One day there was a "straw that broke the camel's back" moment when mom came home and found the dishwasher full of engine parts.....

....wow, can that woman cuss!!

Bobby

 

That reminds me of the time I rebuild a Stromburg 97 on the coffee table in our small apartment right after we got married. Everything was going well until I started using the carb cleaner!

 

I have used Acetone in the past. I learned it from Tom Woods the owner of Tom Woods Driveshaft's in Utah. He used to have a small shop in Moab where he would fix broken Jeep shafts during Jeep events and he let me fix my Jeep axle in his shop. Needless to say I got gear lube all over the place and 90w is hard to clean up. TW just asked me to wipe it with a rag and then poured acetone on top of the spots. Then cleaned it up with kitty litter and a broom. It looked like fresh concrete.

Now I use it at home all the time.

 

Thanks for the tip, Topaz, looks like something I can use!

Back in my youth I lived in a 2nd floor apartment but had three motorcycles, including a Norton that had thrown a rod. It was December in Illinois so what else could I do? Brought it up the elevator at midnight...

 

Atta boy Ross!

A bottle of wine, a bitchin' sounds system and an Ol' Norton to help pass the time.....

 

That is pretty funny. Definately liken the sound system and the carpet. Matches the wine barrel table too.

My brother and I blew a transmission in his Aerostar in early 90s in SnowVille Utah. It was in the winter and cold as hec, so we pulled the transmission and worked on it in the motel bathroom. We got transmission fluid on the linolium (spelling) floor and could not get it cleaned up. So we just smeared more fluid evenly on the entire floor to make it look even. Never heard anything about it after we left.

 

If you spend a little time and really examine that pic... there are a million small things to treasure. The whole scene looks like my livinig room in about '72.........

 

Funny to see vinyl LP's under the stereo. I remember as a kid.......