Posted by Galen on Sunday, August 03, 2003 at 6:04PM :
After some hard work and a lot of worry, I was able to extract a very rusty water distribution tuble from my 251 engine. I purchased the engine from VPW (one of those Israeli rebuilt engines they are selling. I am impressed with the engine so far. Came as promised in a bubble pack lie packing on a heavy steel skid in an enormous wood crate. I have had to make slight modifications in the front motor mount and using my old water pump from my 230. Of course it is longer by about 2" so I am having to rotate the radiator bracket and modify the radiator and front motor mounts do not fit the original holes in the front x-member so I will modify by welding steel plates to extend back over the holes from the legs of the front engine mounting bracket. I really do not want to drill new holes in the front x-member sine the orinial holes have threaded inserts that I want to use. After removing the 251 water pump I saw that the water distribution tuble looked rusty so I ordered a new one from VPW. I thought removal of the old one would be a snap. Turned out it was stuck fast so I used the info here on Joes' web page and advice i gained from you fine folks. Turned out you were all right and I made a tool out of quater inch steel bar by bending a hook to snag the thube. At first no luk even with a heavy slide hammer. The I used a thin (1/16th)insh aluminum stock to slide in between the tube and block walls all the while using a lot of penetrating oil to cut the rust. After a couple of hours of that I tude the slide hammer and hook and the tube just poped out! Was I happy since I had already installed the engine in the frame and was worried about the consequenses had I not been able to free up the tube. I put a fine coating of grease on the new tube and tapped it in place then replaced the 230 water pump with a new gasket and all done!
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