89 accord engine rebuild tips?

[razr_88]

My friend and i came accross an old 89 honda accord lx (carberated) that has bad rings and we have decided to turn it into a project car. we want to do a full overhaul of the engine block and when it is all done we want to install an liquid propane conversion kit(maybe). this is the first time either of us have ever taken the engine out of a car, and we'd like to consult the guru's out there with any tips and tricks that would save time and prevent accidents and the like. any advice is great!

[jeffcoslacker]

When starting into a big overhaul for the first time, always budget twice the time and three times the cost of what you think it should take...not being pessimistic, it's just how it works. And if you do better than that, you'll have extra time and money to kick around.

Get a Honda service manual, Haynes and Clymer's are worse than not knowing what you're doing.

When you start to lift the motor, and it doesn't seem to be coming up like it should, STOP...you forgot to take something off. Picking the whole car off the ground by a forgotten wire harness doesn't do the electrics any good. Ask how I know

When it goes back together REPLACE anything (hoses, etc) that will be hard to get to when it's sitting in the cradle...you'll save a lotta headaches later....

Carb'd Hondas were a freakin' spaghetti factory. Color- or number-code every vac line and hose, you'll never remember where they all go and it won't run worth a damn if you get them swapped. Then replace each with new hose, one at a time, as you put it back together. One bad one that collapses or splits will have you pulling your hair out too.

Start spraying PB Blaster on EVERYTHING NOW....exhaust flanges, motor mounts, electrical connectors, anything you'll have to remove, unplug or unbolt. It'll all come apart easy by the time you get into it.

If you are serious about propane conversion, do some research about how to build the motor to tolerate it better....propane doesn't quench valves like wet fuel does, etc. Small modifications may have big implications for longevity.