This expression has been repeated many times about my engine, " Its really "tired" " and therefore not performing as it would have done 16 years ago.

What parts can be replaced, engine work done, ect. to help bring a 'tired' engine back up to par?

The entire emissions system has been rebuilt and thats all ive done to the car so far as it needed it to pass emissions.

Anything else i should probualey do as time and money allows?

Thanks in advance.

 

A quick fix for a tired engine would usually consist of an engine rebuild.. Using all new components would remove a reason for an engine to be tired, since everythings going to be new.

 

Depends on which motor you have and mileage...
If its a roller cam motor, then really the only thing to wear out and make it not performance as well would be valve springs and if the piston rings are no longer holding compression...an easy compression check will verify that.
If there is no rod knock or crank shaft knock, then your bearings are fine.

 

My bearings were just replaced actually.

I have a tune port injection engine on a 89 firebird formula. It has 143k miles on the engine right now and its never been rebuilt. Theres no knocking whatsoever in my engine.

 

Can't afford a rebuild, but thats definetly an option i'll keep later for when im making more money.

 

I plan to rebuild mine when I get to 150k....I've already vowed to save up the money for that. Whenever it may come.....

 

In that case then, the cam lobes could be worn, so a full rebuild may be required. If the cylinder walls are in good shape, there really isn't a whole lot of parts to buy for a rebuild, just rings, cam, valve springs, timing chain, and bearings again providing the crank is in good shape and the journals..its the labor involved thats the killer...and if you decide to put more hp parts on it.
Wouldn't hurt to have a valve job and the heads cleaned up too with that mileage.

 

How much do you think it will probualey cost...$2k?

 

With all stock or nearly stock components, around $2k-2.5k I would guess, the heads might be another $3-500 or so.
If you pulled the motor you could save alot of $$.
If you don't have anyone in mind, I would recommend you call Scott at A&S Automotive in Keller off of Golden Triangle and I35W and just ask what he would charge for a basic rebuild. He's a very straight shooter and is one of the only people I would let touch any of my cars for things I can't do or don't want to do myself. He worked for GM for 24 years and now works on all f-bodies from stock to wild outlandish hp. His # is 817-431-3150. He did the motor swap from the TPI I used to have in my truck to the LT4 that's in it now.

 

Thanks, i'll give him a call sometime tommorrow and see what he quotes me.