Getting some rebuild facts

[knochgoon24]

This summer, my car will be due for a timing belt change, and since I have a nice garage to work in, my dad and I are just going to pull the engine. A good father/son bonding project since I'm at college 8 months out of the year.

From what I've found, when I change the timing belt, I also should replace:

• water pump
• idler pulley
• timing belt tensioner
• timing belt tensioner pulley
• crank pulley

I also plan on:

• replacing the lifters with 3rd gen ones
• ebay air intake
• ngk spark plug wires
• 3" turbo back
• Larson hose kit
• maybe a modest FMIC

So, my question is this...what else should I either check or replace while I have the engine out?

My goals are to eventually hit around 300hp. I'm not planning on going much more than that, at least with this car. Though, I'd like to race it at a few Flashlight drags against my friend late this summer. He has a lightly modded Z28.

I'm not replacing the stock t-25 yet. I'd rather get the engine working well first. Once I get the engine all up and running, I'll look into a turbo swap. I know I'll need something like a 16g to hit the 300 mark.

I have a friend (he has the Z28) who owns a hot rod fabrication shop to help with the fine details of engine internals. He can also bring home special tools if I need them.

So, what should I be checking?

 

[TjPhillips36]

You don't have to pull the engine if you are just going to replace the timing belt. Their are plenty of good VFaq's on this subject.

However if you are going to pull the engine out, would check and replace any leaks. Might want to replace the headgasket, and put some ARP's in for good measure if you ever plan on running a little higher boost. I would also replace the balance shaft stuff, or just remove them entirely (1 less thing that can fail in a high mileage motor).

 

[housegsx]

Seems like a lot of unnecessary work for what you are going to be doing. If the engine is coming out at least remove the balance shafts.

 

[knochgoon24]

Yeah, I forgot to put balance shaft removal on my list. We're not pulling it just to replace the timing belt. Half the motor is covered in oil. It leaks from several spots, so we're hoping to find and seal those up.

I'll look into some ARP head studs, but I'm kinda cash strapped, so if the stockers will hold, then I'll just stick with them.

Another reason I forgot to mention. My tranny is slipping. I'm still debating on shipping it out to get it rebuild and upgraded or to just do it myself. My dad has rebuilt an auto before, so I'm not totally unprepared for it. We figured that it would just be easier to take it all out at once, fix all the problems in one shot, then put it back in.