ok to do Top End?, rings/heads only? Options

[tat2dphreak]

ok, as you all know by now I have a burnt valve, and I think that's it.

however, I'm catching a lot of grief from people saying I should split the case, do everything!!!

I understand that if I want this 1.7 to last another 100k miles I do need to do this... however, if I only need to fix what's wrong until next summer/spring... is it ok, to just do the top-end(rings/heads) now? I plan to completely rebuild next summer, or next winter(2004) at the latest, put 96mm pistons with a 71mm(or 78mm) crank, new cam...the works!!! at most I will put 1-3k miles on the engine between now and then. I hardly drive it in the winter... no heater b/c of headers...

so, can you do the rings and heads without cracking the case and checking main bearings, rod bearings and everything that will be replaced in a year anyway?

I just didn't want to to all of this and have to do it all again when I trick out the engine...
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[tat2dphreak]

you tell 'em, bro!

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ok, I hate to be a wimp... but I worked on getting the engine out... and because of a combination of not having the right equipment and being nervous about trying to put it back in here... I backed out... just until I get down to my parents(via tow)

don't shoot me!!!!!

1st: I live in an apt. with no garage(moving end of next month to a condo with a garage) and they get pissy about that stuff if you can't get it back in 1-2 days.. and as it is, it has to be off through the weekend...

2: my jack doesn't go up high enough I think... the instructions say it needs to go up about 20"... mine was up all the way at about 10" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

3: I am afraid that once I got it out... I wouldn't be able to get it back in and there I'd be with a 400 lb. motor that I have to lift into a pickup truck!

I think a lot of it is I'm nervous because it's my first(haven't said that in a long time!!!) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif) engine drop and I'm not sure of what I'm doing...

I got the exhaust off thinking that might give me more space to work with, and it did, but not enough really... I think I need a bigger jack with a wider contact area and higher lift and a level place to pull the engine (my spaces are sloped)

a couple questions though...
1) does the shroud need to be removed before pulling the engine?
2) we also kicked around the idea of loosening the engine, but not the tranny and lowering the engine just enough to pull and replace the heads... will this work ok? the tranny mounts seemed a bit thin to brace that much weight
3) once you drop the engine, do you just pick up the car and move it forward? we did this with a beetle...
4) is it easier to drop the engine and tranny together or leave the tranny in?
5) am I making a big deal out of nothing? is it "nothing" to drop the engine and put it back in? the getting it back in is what bothers me mopre than dropping it... we were about to drop it today... we had the fuel lines pulled and clamped, throttle and starter un hooked about all we had left was the clutch cable and shift linkage... and then we thought "how will we get it back in though?"

I know these are dumb questions... but I don't want to really screw something up... if I screw it up, I don't want it to be just because I didn't ask people who know...
I'm sure you all get tired of newbie questions... but the info out there isn't geared towards newbies so we have to ask.... and sometimes we have to f*c& it up and call it a learning experience...

today was a learning experience.... I learned don't buy a tire jack when you need a full lift installed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) and I learned I need a house (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) and if you don't feel comfortable doing it...don't!

so, my new, modified plan is tow it to my parents, where my dad has an "A" frame with a wench, 2 tall jacks and the ability to leave the engine out of the car a weekend or more...

or... am I just a fool and need to just drop it and do it and get it over with and worry about putting it in when the time comes?

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