There are a couple of reasons to perform an engine rebuild.

When an engine has accumulated a lot of miles, the internal parts inside the engine may be worn or damaged and have to be replaced. Symptoms of this might include excessive oil consumption, low oil pressure, and general loss of performance as mileage increases. You can learn how to diagnose some of these problems by reading Part 1 of our Time to Rebuild series.

You may also want to rebuild your engine to achieve performance gains. A rebuild can allow you to raise compression or upgrade your engine internals to accommodate increased power.

Choosing the right engine rebuild kit starts with the purpose of your rebuild, but it doesn’t stop there. Other factors to consider include:

  • Which components need replaced — do you need a re-ring kit or a full-on engine rebuild kit?
  • Does your engine require machine work  — boring, honing, etc.?
  • Does your engine currently have stock bore sizes?
  • Do your crank journals need undersizing?

Most rebuild kits will include things like gaskets and seals, bearings, freeze plugs, and piston rings. More comprehensive kits may add in pistons, oil pumps, and even a camshaft and valvetrain parts. Before buying your kit, you’ll need to figure out your bearing sizes (or undersizes), cylinder bore sizes, desired piston materials, and a myriad of other things.

The video below contains some helpful information, including some dos and don’ts for picking your kit.

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Author: David Fuller

David Fuller is OnAllCylinders' managing editor. During his 20-year career in the auto industry, he has covered a variety of races, shows, and industry events and has authored articles for multiple magazines. He has also partnered with mainstream and trade publications on a wide range of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped establish OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and racing.