89 Pontiac Formula Restoration

[WesNessman]

New to the forum, and I'm sure I'll be coming here often with questions.

My son and I have started to restore an 89 Formula, 305 engine, not the big boy engine. When the car last ran the battery and alternator where the only thing keeping it from being a regular running car.

Any words of advice, or words of warning, would be helpful, particularly as we start heading to the engine. We'd like to open it up and replace the piston rings. I've done this work before as a kid on a 1948 Chevy, but I am sure things have changed over the years.

I was able to pick up a Pontiac shop manual so I can read up on the tasks at hand.

Help a father out?,....so I look like I know what I am doing in front of my son. lol

Thanks,
Wes

 

[melsg5]

Congratulations on your project. How many miles on the engine and what made you decide to replace piston rings?

 

[1980Esprit]

Make sure you keep track of where all the wires go. Not sure if your motor is fuelie or carburetor, shouldn`t really matter jsut fuelie would have a few more wires. Before you take the pistons out, use a metal stamp and stamp not only the connecting rod cap bot also the connecting rod its self on the same side so it goes on the same way. Also make a note of which way they go in, usually little nick in top of piston or a marking of some kind.

Also got a feeling that you will have to take cylinder heads off. We had too either way because of complete rebuild. (maybe not) to get the pistons in/out. Either that or MIGHT BE ABLE take pan off and then pull the crank out with all rod caps off. Not sure on that though. Will need a couple gaskets because pan has to come off any way you do it to take pistons out.