hi

will a ed fairmont auto still be ok to reuse in a restoration if its been outside for a while but with the back covered up then later wrapped in a tarp, has just over 200000 kms

As long as it hasnt got too much water in it I dont see an issue, drop the pan and drain the oil, maybe fit a new filter and refill with fluid if you are concerned, I'd probably just check the fluid and slap the thing in.

Gab

what about the torque converter if its still on the old engine if a covers been on and off

when putting a new engine in does the auto have to go behind it straight away to cover the flywheel or can you leave the flywheel exposed to be able to do the rear seal while engines in

That makes no sense.

+1

Start making sense and we can help you

Just do the seal before you install the engine. Or leave the box off and do the seal in the car. If you have it on a hoist it won't be a problem.

As for the transmission. If its off/out use this opportunity to pull the torque converter out too and drain it as well as servicing the transmission itself by dropping the pan, buying a service kit from REPCO for $14.00.

Make sure to use a clean cloth to remove all the metal fragments in the pan and on the magnet. If the pan's littered with 'gold' fragments you know you have a transmission that's showing allot of wear, so drive nicely and go easy on it if you decide to still install it.

If the transmission miss behaves after you've done all that, i'd be grabbing another one from the wreckers and starting the whjole process over again.

IMPORTANT: Make absolutely certain that you 'only' use transmission oil specifically designed for Ford 4 Speed Auto Transmissions such as Castrol's TQ95. Otherwise you can say bye bye to forward and reverse.

Oh so you did unbolt the flywheel from torque convertor when tranny was removed?
Anyway flywheel will be fine. Maybe just give the ring gear a clean so you don't end up with s**t in the starter motor pinion

how do you stop the flywheel turning when undoing the bolts

There are several ways....

1. Use a decent air tool/rattle gun
2. Use a breaker bar and socket on one nut to hold whilst another person cracks another nut opposite
3. lever a large flat head screw driver between the bell housing and the teeth on the fly wheel in order to stop the wheel from turning, whilst someone else cracks the flywheel nuts.