The nova and a new engine!

I get a lot of crap from my friends about my car, I keep telling them I'm going to mod my car. Its a 1988 toyota nova I mean chevy nova. Recently this summer I did somthing bad to the engine what im not 100% sure. It's a crappy little 1.6 L 8VALVE, that sucks and its only a soh (4alc). granted just because its 1.6 L doesnt mean it cant have HP, look at a high compression 86. So after the mechanic told me this car isnt worth a new engine i got pissed and towed it home. For some reason I love this car, no particular reason I love this car. I decide to see if i can't fix the problem and start ripping this and that off pull the roller rockers out and there is a little metal spring lodged between the cam shaft and the distributer. WTF is this I'm like this definatly doesnt belong here. I knew it wasn't a valve spring too small and shiney, my suspesion someone tried to screw over my car, who I dont know. So I put new gaskets on it and waiting for a gasket for my radiator sensor gasket, tricky to explain... But I'm thinking about now is getting a silver or black top 4age engine, preferably black top cause it has MAP, but silver top is cheaper. If any one knows of a place that is selling them with wire harness I would love to know. Cause that car is really slow, I think its rated at 74 HP. Any suggestions ideas about the nova5000 please tell me. would really like to know.