Spring Cleaning (Various Parts Cleaned and Painted)

Sometimes its just nice to take an old part and remove the built up grease and dirt to reveal its inner beauty.  Spray some paint and marvel at the transformation.  With all these engine parts being cleaned and repainted, I decided to scrape off the old grease and stuff from the engine block.  With the radiator, fan and water pump removed access was greatly improved.  In fact as you can see its standing room only inside the bay.  I also discovered a tag with the number 441 wired to the engine.  Not sure what this is at this point but will update once I learn more.  

The engine cleaning was a combination of camp fuel, paint brush, putty knife, pick and lots of elbow grease.  I also decided to remove the crankcase down draft tube.  Again thanks to the oldGMCtruck forum.  I was able to learn how to remove it without damaging the tube.  Rubber mallet and patience.  I banged it left and right on the main tube so as to rock it back and forth in the engine. Then smack the smaller down draft tube so that the would spin the tube inside the engine. Over and over and over until I was able to twist the tube out.  

My day was almost done, and I had spent the last 4 days focusing on the engine.  Already dirty I slithered under the truck and decide to take off the rear shock to see what its condition might be.  After removing the first rear shock it was apparent that there was nothing inside those old shocks that provided any type of help to the suspension.  I was able to slide the two ends back and forth like a slide trombone.  No resistance, no music.

PARTS IN PROCESS

SLOW REVEAL