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The oil pan leaks from several places and I decided to drop the front end to get to the pan to replace the gasket. Since the front end will be off the car, I will refurbish it. It does not look that bad but I do not think its been touched the last 53 years. Even though it has had a recent major brake job and all ball joints hare recent, the control arm bushings seem to be dry rotted.
You have to disconnect the steering wheel joint, hoses that go from the power steering pump/reservoir to the gear box and the two front brake lines.
Then there are 10 bolts that hold the front suspension to the frame. 3 in the front for each side and two in the rear where the sub frame is held on the frame via body mounts. I found those to be an absolute bitch to get out due to clearance problems.
Removed the oil pan, cleaned it in the aqueous parts washer, put 3 coats of primer and 3 coats of engine black paint (rattle cans) cleaned surfaces and reinstalled with fresh gaskets.
The front end was *completely* disassembled, sand-blasted, primed and painted. Here is is shown mostly complete (w/o the brake hardware and tie rod ends) right before installation
They were completely disassembled, carefully sandblasted, cleaned, primed and painted with high-heat paint, all new rubbers. I think they came out great