Tear down donor 1-2 month before kit comes? so keep the donor running, good idea?

[pt00323i]

my donor is running and drivable, the car pulls strong, side swiped, driver rear control arm bent, I just did the oil/filter change, and I'm going to flush the tranny/diff, and it needs a valve cover job.

I do have the space to park it for now, so should I keep it together, start and drive around the block once a week? and wait until my kit is almost here, like one or 2 month before due date? I just hate letting the motor sit there.

your thoughts

[longislandwrx]

Leave it together unless you don't have a good place to park it (you cant park an unregistered car on the street here). Less chance you'll lose parts, plus as the car evolves you may end up needing additional stuff that you might have otherwise thrown out.

In the mean time you can sell parts off the car you know you wont need.

If its not gushing oil, it's a lot easier to do the gaskets with the motor out.

No need to flush the rear diff, save the $12

[pt00323i]

thanks, yes I mean just the tranny

[Xusia]

It really doesn't take that many hours to strip the donor, so yeah, I'd wait until maybe a month before.

[D Clary]

I am going to strip mine early. as I have ordered an R car there are much fewer parts needed from the donor. I want to everything cleaned, painted and ready when the car comes. I don't want to have to much greasy crap around. Plus car wont pass smog, don't want to spend money on that.

[Racebrewer]

I wouldn't bother flushing the tranny as it has to come apart to do the rear wheel drive conversion.

[AZPete]

Hint: before you remove the rear lateral links, axle, trailing arm, etc. loosen the nuts while still on the car. You'll need penetration oil, a breaker bar and adult words but it would be easier than off the car.