Hi guys, I just bought a '84 SR5 XtraCab 4WD with 22r and 5-speed. I'm a little bit of an auto n00b in general, so please bear with me. I tried searching, but somehow I think my question is special...but probably not, so please point me in the right direction if I'm not special.

Truck is well-used (read: 325k on the body...yeah) but my first goal is to get him into a daily driver state (read: reliable and passing Portland Emissions/DEQ). The first major obstacle is probably going to be the crack in the block that the previous owner JB Welded shut--I have a donor almost-long block 22r sitting in the bed, so between the two I should have a running engine. He's missing a good portion of the emissions system (up top) for some strange reason, which I'm pretty sure will need to be replaced (laws?). I also know that the front axle is leaking like a champ at the hubs, so that needs to be rebuilt as well. And lastly, it's dirtier than all get out under the hood (living in a horse barn for the last few months apparently) and that's barn dust + greasy black goo.

Thanks ahead of time for putting up with my n00bishness

So, two main questions:



tl;dr:
1) Do I rebuild the front axle with the engine in, or out: which is easier/better? (Do I focus on the engine teardown first, tackle rebuilding the axle with the engine out, or do I just deal with one than the other?)

2) What's the best/safest/fastest way to clean/degrease the inside of the engine compartment...including the engine itself?

 

1 everything is easier with the engine out
2. Steam cleaner but if you can't do that like most of us a putty knife a few dozen rags and some "purple power citrus cleaner" because it works better then most engine degreaser and is safe for rubber just make sure you get the one that says citrus cleaner