the ef has been wicked fun this past year and a bit but i think the engine needs a bit of tlc if i want to keep driving it the way i do. At the moment its seems to be pretty much leaking from the majority of all its orifices. ive got an oil leak around the timing chain cover and around the sump gasket, ived got a coolant leak at the back of the water pump, and on the corner of the head gasket under the extractors. and the welsh plugs all need replacing.

So this weekend im pulling the engine out and putting a full gasket kit into it along with a new water pump and water pipe, welch plugs, and im getting the head remachined and installing it with an au gasket.

what im wondering is whilst im going to all this effort of removing and pulling apart the engine is there anything else i can do with regards to maintenance/ performance upgrades that anyone can reccomend? or even some reasonablly priced machining work.
i plan on keeping the car for a while and when i put it back together ill be running full synthetic oil, replacing all the spark plugs, air filter, fuel filter etc,etc... and ill probabally look at getting a tune done.

i was looking at the possibility of maybe doing a bit of port matching work myself but still unsure and need advice on what people can recomend.

i am wanting to try and keep costs reasonable but if there is someting worthwhile doing performance or maintenance wise id like to hear your thoughts

Some background info. its an ef manual with a 549 crow cam and xr valve springs, modified intake, pacies 4489's, 3.9 diff at its showing 190,000 on the clock

i would certainly throw a new oil pump go there while the engine is out of the car. You dont want to take it out down the track just to do the pump.

If your gunna go that far, you should probably give it a quick hone and throw a set of rings and bearings in it. Not much more of an outlay for the parts, and a relatively easy job.

Or, leave it as it is and drive it gently for a while, and get another short engine and reco it, and then fit your head and away you go.....

All comes down to the $$$$. Good luck.

Timing chain.

For the money and effort its going to take you, would you consider maybe getting a 2nd hand motor? With less km's on it? That way you can slowly do a rebuild while you've still got your car on the road, then just do a change over and sell your old engine.

Its a little more money but I think you'd regret not doing the rings and bearings if time is a contraint. Trust me I've put alot of money and effort into an engine and its gone pop soon after (not ford, subaru )

Anyway just trying to help

tme is no issue. ive got 6 months to go without a licence. sounds like its worth doing seeing as the engine will allready be out