Bottom-end Rebuild Questions / Help a Noob Out

[anokabball24]

I'm looking for some help on rebuilding my 2.2l bottom-end. I figure I can probably save upwards of $1K by doing this myself. However, having never done this before I'm quite lost as to what tools are needed, and the amount of skill/knowledge required to tackle this job.

I will be looking to replace:

• Piston rings
• Rod bearings
• Main bearings
• Gaskets & Seals—Front and rear end seal, oil pan gasket, rear main seal, front main seal, water pump housing to block o-ring, distributor o-Ring and oil pump o-ring, intermediate shaft seal
• Non-Common Block Oil Pickup
• Oil pump

I will have a machine shop inspect the crank, and block and have them machine what's needed. What else am I missing here? Worth putting in a high-volume (Melling) oil pump while I'm at it?

My main questions/concerns before I tear it down are:

• What are things I need to pay attention to when removing parts in regards to putting them back together in the right order?
• Does the crank have to be in the same position when installed as it was when removed?
• How do I get the valves and pistons working together in the right order? Find TDC? A little confused on this.

Any other tips, pointers or things to note are very much appreciated.

[RoadWarrior222]

Write notes, you can snap pictures if you want, but if you write notes you'll probably remember everything. Basically, the only thing to worry about is you force a long bolt into a short hole on reassembly, or strip thread with the wrong pitch bolt, so take note of what goes where. All the bearing caps should go back to their original locations though. you can scribe stuff, use a paint marker, tag it with white insulating tape and a sharpie, color code it with polka dots, what you like.

Don't worry about which way everything is clocked on assembly, it will all come right when you set the timing.

[jackerman]

Forward motion fwdperformance and turbosunleashed all have the 2.2 2.5 mopar performance engine quides. All info and clearences and tools are in that book. It has helped me greatly with my build.

[RoadWarrior222]

Or you can get tough ziplock freezer bags, and label them 1 2 3 4 everything from #1 goes in #1 etc.

[135sohc]

main bearing caps are numbered already. engrave or use a stamp set to put a number or something on each rod & cap to ensure they stay as a matched set. Get or make some rod bolt sleeves so you dont scratch the crankshaft or cylinder walls when removing the piston-rod assembly.

A FSM will be your best guide for doing this. A bottle of assembly lube to coat the bearings and an oil can for lubricating all the bolt threads and seal lips will be useful as well.

[supercrackerbox]

The Mahle/Clevite Re-ring kits from Rock Auto are a pretty good deal. They have the Rings, Rod and Main bearings, all the gaskets and seals, assembly lube, anerobic sealer, and some vinyl covers for the rod bolts for re-assembly. I wouldn't really use the head gasket on a turbo car though, I buy the Mopar ones. They also don't include the core plugs; you'll have to get those seperately, along with the head bolts and oil pump/pickup. Depending on the year of your engine, the best price I found for the pickup was from Turbos Unleashed, and the best price for an oil pump (Melling, stock replacement) was Summit believe it or not.

[anokabball24]

Really appreciate all of the feedback so far, it's going to help. I've updated my parts/replace list, see anything that I forgot?