I recently picked up an '89 2.7L and plan on using it for a fun commuter car/auto-x'er.
The second day I had it, it developed a knocking from the back of the motor. Couldn't tell if it was a rod bearing or something in the top end so I ended up pulling the motor to tear it down and rebuild it.

I've read several places that the rod bearings are a week point so I should replace those while I have the engine out. Do you guys have a list of additional piece I should replace at this point in time? Planning on replacing the head gasket and the valve cover gaskets, replacing the clutch, getting the flywheel resurfaced, and making sure the cam/valves are in good shape.

What about the suspension and transaxle? Plan on replacing the suspension bushings, struts, springs and sway bars in the future.
If I downshifted without doing a perfect job rev-matching, the transaxle sound like it was going to rip off the car. I was assuming this might be attributed to a clutch and/or flywheel issue, but are there bushings on the transaxle I should look at replacing?

Thanks,
- Marc

 

Well I can only speak to one thing form experience and that is the suspension. The single best thing I have upgraded was the Sway bars. I put on the M030 package from the 968 and the front sway bar brace. Makes a big difference.
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Well first you need to determine where the knocking was coming from. Was it a tick or a knock? If it was a knock, then more than likely you spun a rod bearing, and will not only need new rod and main bearings, but also a new crank. If it was a light ticking, then it is probably just a cam follower that has gone soft and needs to be replaced. Either way, if you have it out, the bearings need to be done. If the clutch is falling apart when you get it out, then most likely that is the issue with the shuddering.