[DOCTORBILL]

I just did the Rings and Rod bearings - with the engine in the vehicle.

I was told that I'd have to take the engine out to replace the crankshaft bearings -
which I would not want to fart with....

I am too much of a "meat hands" and much too ignorant for that!

Before I put the rings back onto the pistons, I placed them into the cylinder and
measured the "end gaps" using a Feeler Gauge.

With REGULAR rings, my ring gaps were well within spec, so apparently my cylinder walls
had very little wear after the 157,000 miles on it (assuming no one had done a
ring job prior to me owning it).

My ridge at the top of the cylinder was not very thick. It is possible that I
really didn't need to do that reaming...(?)

I replace my oil and filter at 3,000 miles religiously - like a monk attends prayers!

Just doing that alone, in my opinion, will keep the little bugger running for a
long time.

If a woman drives the vehicle - Watch Out!
Women are notorious for not checking the oil and running it dry or for gozillions of miles
w/o changing it...

So - I had the head done (wish I had had Stainless Steel Exhaust Valves put in for a few dollars more!),
replaced the rings and rod bearings, and the Head Bolts - that's it!

Runs like a dream!

My 5 speed manual transmission makes strange whirring/"grinding" noises when
it is cold out.

I may have to take it out and replace the bearings in the Transmission one summer,
but I'll wait until it is screaming before undertaking that job...

DoctorBill

PS - Every new tool that I bought to do this job, paid for itself right away.

What did I save - $1,000 or more !? No idea....anybody want to chime in ?!

AND - at 46 mpg (average) versus 25 mpg for 'normal' cars, how much does
one save in gasoline at $3.40 / gallon nowadays?

((# miles driven per year)/(Metro's mpg - Reg car's mpg)) x Current Price per gallon = amount saved by rebuilding your Metro

It was worth doing !