OK, so I began taking off things like the water pump, thermostat housing, manifolds etc, in prep for painting my engine/adding dutras.

I take off the thermostat housing and go to shove a rag in the hole to keep out debris and there's a stiff wire like a coat hanger in the block (but it's thinner and has no kinks).

What gives? Is it from the casting sand? I was going to pull it out and 99% of my brain says it doesn't belong (along with experience) but I wanted to ask about it before I did.

Help.

Yep, it's left over from the casting. Grab it and yank it out so it won't turn into rust flakes that clog up your radiator.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Thanks Dan.

There were 3 or 4 of them in my head when I started working on it.

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David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

I saw one of those too when I changed my water pump. Mine was stuck pretty hard, so I left it alone. Figured if it had been in there a couple decades not hurting anything, it wouldn't bother me too much. Had no idea what it was.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.