We'll as a few of you know (I told 1 or 3 people) I blew the HG, the first day of summer vacation, and been rockin' my mom's ZX2 since (agile lil machine) Well, just got a check for 2.5k, waiting on a couple scholarship checks, and a two month paycheck the first week of october.

My Piece O' Junk had 156k mi. when I got it back in 2003, now its a couple miles from, if not past 160k. I only drive it like ~4miles a day, and a bit more on weekends (school monday-saturday). My plan to this point has been pretty broad. A completely stock rebuild, replacing what needs to be replaced, and rebuilding whats needs to. I had considered a P&P but after further research and opinions from board members, I've decided not to. Oh, I am also sending my injectors to RC engineering to get balanced/cleaned back to factory+ condition.

I'm going to have it done by shops (don't have the necessary time, skill or tools)I want to take as little risk as possible so I'm taking the head to a machine shop myself, and providing it to the rebuilding place, rather than them doing it (even though it be cheaper to let them do it). I think I'll pick up a crank scrapper and a windage tray to put in. I'll be sending my TB to get bored to 55mm FINALLY, and dremeling the Intake manifold to match myself. The day the HG went there was some VERY strange symptoms, and I think with my luck my clutch/tranny went down with it. I've seen some prices on tranny rebuilds, and they are not nearly as much as the engine.

I've read some stuff on breaking in a newly rebuild engine, and stuff, but I wan't to get some help from some pro's. The shop is giving me a 12k warranty, but what else should I be certain they do? This is my first car, and first time I get a motor rebuilt. ANY help I can get is much appreciated, and suggestions to modify my plans are welcome as well.

P.S. Consider that I am in CA, DO NOT want to have a hp beast. My priorities are reliability, comfort and as much performance as I can get without diminishing any of the previous two categories. I'm NA, have a GST catback, 4-2-1 header, AFX UDP and a Ebay CAI.

Thanks in advance guys.

EDIT: Mods, if you could move this to the General/Performance section I'de appreciate it. Thanks.