[DeTomaso] Carb questions

[Mark McWhinney]

I pull my carb off for the first time and got a good look at it.  It's a
Holley 750 DP racing carb that should have been rebuilt long ago.

Naturally, some engine novice questions --

* I found that the four bolts holding the carb to the manifold were not much
more than finger tight and had flat washers.  I will track down the proper
torque specs before putting it back on.  Should I add lock washers?
Blue/red threadlock goop?

* Anytime I take my air cleaner off, I put a shower cap on the top of the
carb.  Otherwise, due to Murph's Law, any bolt dropped anywhere in the shop
would fall into the carb, through the manifold, past an open valve and into
a cylinder.  What is a good way to protect the engine when I scrape off the
old gasket between the carb and the manifold?  I was thinking about just
stuffing a rag into the manifold then shop-vacing out the bit afterwards,
but it seem that there should be a better solution than that.