John,
In order to answer your question correctly, one would need to know a bit
more information. What is the intended use for your car? Do you live in a
state that requires regular emissions testing? How much money are you
willing to spend? Without those answers, it's hard to tell you what to do.
There are IMHO a few things that are applicable irrespective of the answers:
1. The machine shop: Try to find one that has worked on TR engines before.
There's no sense in you paying to provide their learning curve.
2. Don't go cheap on the stuff that may cost you later. Replace the con-rod
bolts and the main bearing cap bolts. Use new pistons/rings, rather than
trying to go cheap with a simple hone and re-ring of the old pistons. Try
to buy the best you can afford, rather than whatever is cheapest.
3. Balancing is a good thing, and generally does not cost a lot of money.
4. Porting: A good porting job will gain you horsepower. A bad job may cost
you horsepower. A good port job is not cheap, as you are paying for the
abilities of the person doing the porting. Once again, try to find a shop
that has experience in TR heads.
Hope this helps,
Hugh Barber
Hollister, CA
'73 TR6
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