Right I figured I better do an idiots guide to overhauling a v6 engine. I am not going to say everything that has to be done but more things that you should not forget to do.

Firstly and one of the most important things is take everything off methodically and try to organise your nuts and bolts into either different sizes or nuts and bolts for different parts.

If you are doing a full engine rebuild it is advisable to try and source all your parts before hand so that the engine is a part for less time and you will have where everything goes still fresh in your head by the time you put it all back together.

Items that you should replace if doing an engine rebuild
- ALL gaskets (head, manifolds, bottom end, sump)
- New timing belt pulley's and tensioner
- New timing belt
- Water pump
- Head bolts (you can re use them once but only if you have a good functioning vernier and are able to file the bolts shorter so they dont bottom out)
- Valve stem seals
- front and rear crank shaft seals
- flywheel bearing
- New friction rings ( http://www.club323f.com/?page_id=1224 )
- HLA's (I put this on here as most v6's have really noisy tappets but if they are still quiet before the build you dont have to replace them) or you can rebuild them with this guide viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45153
- New spark plugs

These next bits normally wait till a machine shop has checked the engine over as depending on the condition of the engine you might need oversize bearings or if you go oversize pistons due to cylinder wear will need different piston rings.
- Big end bearings
- Main bearings
- Piston Rings

Now work that should relatively be checked and done by a machine shop
- skimming of the head to makes sure it is flat and general clean up of the head (this normally includes, shot blasting of the heads, lapping the valves back in and installing your new valve stem seals)
- checking of pistons, bore, and bottom end
- then block should be skimmed and bores honed.

It is at this point I tell you that most engine machine shops will quite happily (and most the time prefer) if you take them the whole engine in one piece with all the new parts and will reassemble it for you. This way you dont need to try find torque setting or specialist tools or anything like that. But if like me you plan on taking apart and assembling the engine yourself then you should give these a good look through before starting

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45321

http://www.xtremethings.com/Engineering ... edures.pdf

http://www.xtremethings.com/Engineering ... ecrets.pdf (read this as very important for breaking in a new engine)

http://www.xtremethings.com/Engineering ... ations.jpg

Very interested!!

May I just say, I personally DO NOT recommend re-using the stretch head bolts on these cars, for the small amount of money they cost it's not worth running the risk of them failing.

Stu

think i should add this awesome little site i have found. very good read for anyone wanting to do stuff on their v6

http://www.softcar.ru/UserFiles/File/en ... 1996-d.pdf