Next up on the to-do list is to take apart the block and inspect the parts to see how far out of spec they are. First thing was to remove the transmission and mount the block on the engine stand.
Next, remove the oil pan – some advice… be careful when undoing those little nuts. I broke 2 when taking them off, so it would probably be better to use a 1/4″ rachet rather than a 3/8″ rachet like I did. I’ll have to get this handled by the machine shop once its time for that stage.
Carefully pry around the entire perimeter to separate the baffle plate and oil pan in stages to avoid damaging the mounting surface. I cleaned up the leftover RTV with a white 3M roloc bristle disc on a die grinder, I found this specific disc (white one, 120 grit) to be gentle enough on these surfaces.
Next up is to remove the connecting rods, pistons and crankshaft.