I am pulling the heads on a 95 TA to replace the head gaskets. The car has 133,000 miles on it, and does not seem to have been very well maintained. Other than the gaskets, what would you all recommend replacing while the engine is that far apart?

I want the car to be reliable for the owner without spending too much money since she's on a tight budget.

 

Springs, valve seals, spark plugs, head bolts.

 

Good list. Hadn't thought of valve seals. How about pushrods? Are those typically a wear item at this mileage or can they usually be reused?

As for springs, I should be able to use a standard $50 set on singles from Jegs or Summit right? It's a stock cam car. I may put 1.6 roller rockers on it.

 

I would not cheap out on the springs. For that matter, I'd opt for some Crane Dual Springs 99893 or 99893E (the kit # is 10308-1 which would include the springs, retainers and keepers. Why?----because stock springs are marginal to begin with and the Lt1 usually doesn't reach its potential because the stock springs begin to float at the higher rpms. Coupled with the age of the springs in there now even makes it more important. Also, if you go with a higher rocker ratio, i.e. from the stock 1.5 to 1.6 your lift will be greater and you would definitely need a stronger spring.

As far as push rods, if you go with self-adjusting 1.6RRs, you won't need hardened push rods (maybe that year already has them anyway) but if not you can still reuse them----just make sure you put them back in the same holes and before reinstalling them, roll them accross a mirror to make sure they are not bent. Now if you opt for a non-selfadjusting RR, you will need hardened pushrods, since the non-selfaligned RRs are guided by guides and the rubbing of the push rod against the guide plate can eat away at the soft metal rods ---thats why you would need the hard rods. But if you do not intend to go with a cam, then you should be alright with the Self Adjusting RRs and the stock PRs.

Having said that: you can certainly go with a less expensive spring, but I would still opt for a quality dual spring with a proven track record----we do have a possible problem though, and that is I understand Crane Cams is or has gone out of business, so I would get those springs ASAP--chech with Summit. Also, you might find some good springs on here for a good deal---just make sure you run it by the team here just to be sure.

 

No need to go wild on the springs. If you want an upgrade do the LT4 springs (~$40). As long as you don't plan a camshaft change the LT4's will be all you'll ever need.

If you don't forsee a 1.6 rocker upgrade. I have a set of stock LT1 springs with ~15k miles on them, $15/shipped and they're yours.

 

I would not put stockers on regardless. JMHO