Oil pump, engine paint and intake manifold.

Each step takes 400% longer than I anticipate.  Right on target!  A very long time ago, I had a beer with a passing acquaintance (like so many along the child-rearing journey).  This gentleman and I were of like mind, busy as a one-armed paper-hanger, preferring to f-up a perfectly good kitchen than to pay an exorbitant fee to someone else to f-it up.  We both agreed that using the 4x rule was about right for most jobs.  I can't tell you how this epiphany has lightened the proverbial load over the years.  When I tell my wife, "You'll have a bathroom in about 3 weekends", she now knows I mean 3 seasons!

Okay, I removed the oil pump (yuk) and gave that a good flush and cleaning, then reassembled with new compression washers (copper).

Then it was time to apply some paint to the block and some other parts.  I used POR-15 black engine paint for the block and other cast iron parts (of which there are several).  It's self leveling and guaranteed to stay on and protect properly prepared semi-rusted steel.  For other parts I use a combination of SEM products.  SEM Self-Etching Primer was used for priming just about every bare-metal part.  Swear by it!

Along with lots more of the smallish piece parts that I've cleaned and painted in preparation for assembly (again taking valuable time roughly 4x my expectations!), I disassembled the intake manifold and gave this aluminum beauty a makeover.  Oh, this is going to look nice!