I appreciate all the chatter. If I understand correctly the tube from the block to the gears will unscrew from the block part. All parts of this engine are in good enough shape to reuse. ie bearing etc. (However, I do plan to replace them) So I'm thinking I will leave that part in and reuse the gears and put it all back together. Or is that a cardinal sin in these parts?


And that's the bottom line cause STONECOLD said so!!