Finally getting around to rebulding the motor for my 91 galant beater car..a few questions, since I'm not very familiar with this motor yet. Everything is stripped and in pieces at the moment ready for the machine shop...

I am keeping the balance shafts in this, and the one rear bearing has a very tiny sliver of metal sticking up on it, right where there is a small dip in the bearing surface. From looking at the Factory service manual, you need a special puller/installer tool to replace these. Should I just try to clean up that bearing, or replace it? All the other bearings look good, with no major deep gouges or anything.

Front cover and oil pump gaskets- I assume these go on dry, with no sealant or anything? And on the block side of the front cover, there are some very tiny "hairline" cracks on the metal surface. Looks like its just on the surface of the metal, not through the actual metal. Is this just casting cracks from the forming process, or should I be worried about this and get a new front cover assembly?

I'm planning on going with .025 over pistons/rings, and just new bearings, gaskets, timing belt stuff, and a redone head with new valves and guide seals,ect..Anyone have any input,tips, tricks for this motor?

13.5 @108 MPH-2.2 60ft(stupid FWD!)
S16G @ 18 PSI/FMIC/Running on MegaSquirt II (Now with sequential
fuel injection)
My webpage: http://eclipsed4evr.home.comcast.net
-1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS-T- "Toy"
-1992 Plymouth Laser Turbo AWD(SOLD)
-2000 Honda CR-V(daily)