Sparky wrote:I first have to ask.....why do you think the engine needs a rebuild? How many miles are on it?
Also, stay away from gimicky performance mods and cams. That 425 when running/tuned right etc etc, is PLENTY enough of a screamer! Electronic ignition and MAYBE C-heads are all you need for upgrades. Most of the other stuff you may want to do as a matter of reconditioning can be done without even taking the engine out.
Sparks
Well, I just bought the car. And I know it has been sitting since 1990, though I don't know much about it's life before that. The odometer says 35K, and I doubt very highly that that is original miles, I'm not that lucky

So it's probably 135k, though it's possible it's 235k as well, seeing as how the car has been around a while. However, I doubt that to be the case, judging by the condition of the rest of the car. 135K is most likely.
Mostly, it's performance is definitely not where it should be... It's slower than my El Camino with a paultry 305. May just be the carburetor on that one, but it's burning coolant too... Not at an alarming rate, but it's still an issue. It takes about 2 minutes of turning the key and pumping the gas-pedal to get it started, which, again, could be the carburetor... I'd also like to get some hardened valves in it so that I don't have to add lead substitute every time I fill 'er up. And, if I'm going to be tearing the heads off, I figured I might as well go all the way. Oh, also, one of my lifters is clicking pretty good.
Beyond that, the engine has been sitting in the car for 44 years now, largely un-touched by the looks of things. So, it seemed logical to me that it would be in need of a rebuild. I'd like to get it running well over the winter, so I can daily-drive it all next summer and enjoy it before stripping the car almost completely to the bones and re-building everything.
I haven't been here long, but I know enough to place a great amount of weight on your opinion Sparky.
I'm going to stick with the distributor system. Might put a more modern one in, but I don't want to go to electronic. I know there's alot of junk out there for "performance" parts... which, is why I asked

I fear I would scarcely know the difference. I understand the basic mechanical systems involved in making an engine run, but I have little to no understanding for the math involved in it. This would be my first rebuild, and I plan to follow it with my 2.5L from my Fiero during the summer I drive my Toro. At least, that's what I had in mind.