about 30 plugs bob

nar what 10 i think i cant remember..


balance parts take em out and send them to a engine place they will do it

excuse my ignorance, but what parts need to be balanced? i'm not overly interested in pulling the bottom-end apart?

Crankshaft, rods and pistons at least if you want to get serious Everything that moves or rotates including flywheel and clutch or torque converter power steering pulleys, air con pulleys etc

Are you redoing the pistons and all that? I thought you were just rebuilding the head?

he was.. but this is captain indecisive!

not doing the pistons - the bottom end has only 150,000kms on it & looks ok, so i'm going to leave it - otherwise i'll be biting off more than i can chew i think!

Nah, it won't be that bad.
Your heads a peice of piss, make sure the heads been machined and what ever so it's all nice and level and ready to put on. You'll need new valves maybe, new springs, new valve stem seals. New head gasket, new manifold gaskets, new cover cover gasket, new camshaft and adjustable vernier cam gear that you have. While your there you might aswell get new hydrolic lash adjuster retainer clip seals and replace them aswell. Also a new thermostat depending on when you last did that - and both thermostat gaskets - the one for the top and bottom housing and the housing to the head. maybe also replace the seals on the bolts for the rocker cover.
Then the bottom end you didn't seem like you were doing, so replace the rear main seal and the sump seal. your oil pump should be fine.
Might aswell do the water pump, I'll price yuou one tomorrow but I know the Silverline ones are pretty dirt cheap. if the block is out of the car, couldn't hurt to maybe have it checked (check the top is level - usually it's fine and heaps of people replace the head without doing so) - if they can do that while the pistons and that are still in there... as said replace welsh plugs too.
Now if your gunna do the timing chain you'll need timing cover gaskets, timing chain, new guides. You may need new crank shaft and other gear - but unlikely. may also need new timing chain tensioner, but old should be fine.
When you put it back together you might aswell put on a new fan belt. check your pulleys and harmonic balancer - they should be fine, but may/might need replacing. also will probably want new radiator hoses.
new coolant, oil and oil filter and she should be rocking.

Oil pumps, Melling std and HV about $130 6mths ago

If you are going to get the head done and have got the sump off you should at least give the bores a light hone new rings and big end bearings - give it a bit of a freshen up. If you aren't going to get the head fully serviced, do the valve stem seals when you change the springs.

I personally would not worry about balancing the engine unless you are looking at doing a serious rebuild.