Re: Yank that engine, '84 4000S

[rdh@sli.com (Robert D. Houk)]

   I'm sorry to bother with a simple question, but...

Simple? *SIMPLE*? Why the teleological issues alone can keep us enter-
tained for weeks! Not to mention the theological ramifications . . .

   I am going to, in the period of the next two weeks, pull the engine out 
   of my "parts car" '84 4000S, 4-cyl.  I have increasing space sonstraints, 
   ...
   The question is: what is the best way to keep all of the required 
   sensors, wires, plugs, etc., in order?  I have been thinking of some sort 
   of tag with a wire to tie onto the connection, as well as many Ziplock 
   bags for the little bits.  I have been pondering the idea of 
   photographing the job while I go, but it sounds like overkill.  I just 
   don't want to end up with a big mess that I can't remember how to 
   re-assemble.

Photographs can't hurt, especially if this is the sort of project that
is eventually inherited by assorted offspring! (Of course *I* have never
had to resort to photos...[Which is not to say there hasn't been a time
or two when I *wished* I had some pictures.] heh heh)

Get the manual now if you don't already have it -- it may not be avail-
able later when you really need it. (Also increases the later salvage
value when you flick it in and sell it all off to some local teenage
gearheadwannabe...)

For long-term "archiving", I would reassemble as much as possible of
all the miscellaneous bits'n'pieces into a quasi-coherent whole -- that
way there is no question of where each tidbit fits in. And it also mi-
nimizes that years-later agonizing over "Oh No! where is Baggie #13C? 
AarGH!" Minimize entropy -- keep the number of separate stashes to the
smallest possible count. Bear in mind that total/gross entropy always
increases -- no matter how neatly piled/stacked/correlated, a stash will
always try to separate itself into a number of smaller disparate stashes!
(Especially if you have offspring who someday stand to inherit the whole
mess). And the ability of a stash to tunnel off into hyperspace, emer-
ging only-gawd-knows-where, is inversely proportional to the size of the
stash (and roughly proportional to the square of the cost to replace the
stashes' contents).  Remember: Audi fits more bits'n'pieces into an en-
gine compartment than Lotus does in an entire car!

Besides, if you plug all the holes with the components that ultimately
belong in that hole, you minimize points of ingress for chipmunks, cock-
roachs, rust, and other such vermin. Speaking of rust, make sure every-
thing's well-glopped with long-term protection. (And not just WD-40!
Something like LP #3, no need [hopefully] for Cosmoline!)

You can buy an amazing assortment of compartmented plastic/metal "parts"
boxes (with lids) from 1"-square compartments to "huge" compartments.
These things are lifesavers when it comes to organizing loose pieces,
as well as "ordering" parts [on the theory of first off last on (number
the compartments, keep notes), it even helps in the eventual reassembly].
And, as above, it helps keep all the parts together... (In that same
vein, cupcake/muffin/etc. baking pans are great for keeping parts to-
gether yet segregated when you're working on things: cam cover nuts in
muffin #1, funny long cam cover screw in #2, cam gear bolt in #3, cam
bearing cap nuts in #4, ...; just DON'T drop the pan! No lid...)

Finally, for those recalcitrant odds'n'ends that don't fit anywhere
else (wiring harness comes to mind...), there are various "tags" or
"labels" available. The classic is the little paper tag with string;
cheap (no excuse to misremember if the intermediate oil temp sensor
wire is the orange w/blue stripe or the blue w/orange stripe!), and
readily available; also readily digestible by various of Life's Vermin.
Of a more permanent variety, you can get "tie-wraps" that have a "label"
surface built in -- harder to find, but could be real lifesaver a year
or three down the road (use waterproof/permanent ink!). One of those
"Dymo" labellers might even work, although I've seen less-than-stellar
longevity as far as their sticking where you want them to stick.

					-RDH