When replacing major parts (engine, transmission, heads, rear diff...), is there an ideal ambient temperature? It's starting to drop below freezing here in Maine, and my heads are not done. My garage is little more than a shelter with no insulation. Should I still be able to put everything back together as long as the day time temps are in the 50's or so?

Any help, thoughts experiences are really appreciated!

 

This sounds good.
I think the limiting factor is yourself. I think your fingers will be the gauging items.
When you are too cold, it is too cold to work and you should call it quits until a warmer day.
I remember working outside in the cold a while back. My fingers were so numb they hurt. At least I did not feel them get smashed when they did. When they thawed out, they hurt like heck...

 

I wouldn't worry about it.

For a Porsche, where you're adjusting the cam timing for X.XXX" lift at X.XX° with a vernier gear, it's got to be within a temperature range.
For these, as long as the parts are about the same temp. as each other, it should be fine.

- Eric

 

Any gasket sealer and stuff like that may take until Spring to set up. Rubber O rings and seals get hard, put them in your mouth to warm them up so they don't crack when installing, same as you do with worms when you're fishing in cold weather to keep them warm and lively.

I used to work on cars out in the driveway in zero degree weather all the time, never any problems, you don't feel the cold when you're having fun.

 

Lower than zero is when you don the long sleeve shirts, right?

 

Thanks guys!

I've done lots of smaller stuff in far colder weather. I was primarily concerned about frost/condensation with the freezing/unfreezing wreaking havoc on the gasket mating surfaces.

I'll have a few clean shop rags handy and just give it a go I guess

 

If you can't find the you know what's, it is to cold.

 

Go for it as long as you can withstand it, the parts can. Good luck and keep warm.

 

Funny you bring this up, I beat you by a couple of days, but I have the same problem, here's some answers I got, a couple, by our very own Joe P. http://www.oldspower.com/vb/showthread.php?t=55441