engine semi-rebuild!

[Options13]

haha for some history on my car i bought it for fairly cheap ( $400 and an xbox 360) haha and it had an auto tranny and blow ka24e, so i am in the process of turning it into 5spd and putting a new ka24e into it...

so i went out and bought a ka24e locally, owner said it ran great, but when i pulled the spark plugs they were black so i'm guessin it ran a little rich, so maybe o2 sensor is bad or something? or could this be a problem in the ECU?

also i droppped the oil pan and found little plastic peices, probably from the timing chain, so im just decided to semi rebuild it

so far this is the parts list, if you guys see that i'm missing anything let me know :)

-engine gasket kit
-oil pump
-timing chain kit
-piston ring kit
-bearing kit - crankshaft
-water pump
-thermostat
-sealant

im still debating on if i should bring the block in and have it balanced, will that be good in the long run and also if i should machine the head, i probably will do though..

anyways for some pics
heres the pieces of plastic
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00013-1.jpg

so i took the engine apart
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00007-9.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00013-2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00017-1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00008-7.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00016-1.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00010-4.jpg

[punxva]

PCV Valve, might as well get it while it's out. if you can afford it go ahead and do the water pump while your at it. oil pump. basically all the usual parts that are wear and tear.

[WoolyS14DET]

Water pump is a must !!! The seals gets corroded from the motor sitting and will leak after you get it running again !!

YOU MUST DO THE WATER PUMP !!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!:bash:

[Options13]

ahh yeah i forgot to add that since i already have a new water pump and thermostat! but a PCV valve? haha that related to emissions? those spendy?

when removing the front cover do i have to first mark where the distributor sits? since it can go in more than one way? or can it only go in one way?

[Options13]

is re-honing the cylinder walls necessary when putting in new piston rings?

[renegade_ewok]

is re-honing the cylinder walls necessary when putting in new piston rings?
Depends on the piston rings? What kind are they? It all depends on the material that they are used. Depending on the tolerances for certain kinds of piston rings, they can rehone the cylinder walls to break them in proper (different levels of crosshatching, etc etc to help them wear properly at the start to seal tightly). Look up what the material used for the rings and ask a guy who machines blocks, he'll do it right.

[Options13]

alright, hmm what exactly does balancing the crankshaft do? and would i have to take it out to do that? or could i leave it in the block?

[Sileighty_85]

is re-honing the cylinder walls necessary when putting in new piston rings?
yes it is necessay or else the ring will not seat correctly
dont just hone the cylinders, on a high milage engine the cylinder walls be come un even
New Cylinder walls ||
high milage cylinder walls / \

So you need to bore and hone the block
You should take the block to a machinest first and he can tell you how much the walls need to be bored
.20 might be good the get some .20 over Pistons and rings take them too the machinest and he will bore the cynders to the cloest tolerance to the pistons.

alright, hmm what exactly does balancing the crankshaft do? and would i have to take it out to do that? or could i leave it in the block?

Balanceing the crank will help in the high RPMS to lessen vibration
yes you need to remove the crank from the block

[Options13]

alright well, i managed to get the front cover off today and clean the pistons

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00004-16.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00010-5.jpg

while i was trying to get the front cover off, i realized i missed a bolt so i loosened it and had to pry the front cover off, but since i didn't know i missed a bolt i just hammered a screw driver in the side hoping it would come off and this happened, you guys think this will cause a leak? when i go to feel it with my hand i can bearly feel an indent...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00015-3.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00016-2.jpg

and heres the 2 objects that go in these holes, do these come with an engine gasket kit?

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00017-2.jpg

and here are the clean pistons ready for the new pistons rings :)
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00024-2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00023-1.jpg


what does this mean?
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b90/timberlando/DSC00021.jpg

and how do i know how the piston goes in? since there are 2 ways you can put in.. is it marked anywhere ?

[Options13]

bumpopppppppppppppppppppp

[Rnz520]

You need to download the FSM, dont mean to be a dick but something like this you need to do your research over and over and over again before you do it so you do it right. Just look for the FSM, then you can learn about piston ring gapping and all that good stuff. Also dont forget the rings go in a certain way. This link might help.
http://www.ka-t.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4156