@Bexar81 Consensus seems to be to go with Cloyes timing kits (primary and balance shaft), a Fel-Pro PermaTorque MLS (Multi-Layer Steel) head gasket to prevent future head gasket failures, along with their premium valve cover and oil pan gaskets, Silvolite (Pistons) & Hastings (Rings). King Engine or Clevite bearings, Melling oil pump.
Enginetech higher level kits are preferred if you go single kit as engine tech usually puts their kits together from components purchased directly from some of the manufacturers listed above. "But you'd have to check the exact kit with them find out who makes what*
. Timing components and the 3rd gen tensioner and oiler are critical on these early ecotecs which had known oil starvation issues and many a broken chain.
There's a $900-ish Enginetech full kit which I'd probably check into the details if I were you. It's $900 so I would definitely assess whether it really needs new pistons and rings, bearings, etc, but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. if you are going all the way on the rebuild, you'll need to know whether you need oversized pistons, rings, bearings, etc. before you place the order.
Some of the kits specify a particular VIN code
Some kits include primary timing but not the balance shaft timing components., or include the water pump but not the oil pump, etc.
As a moderator here, I intentionally try to make these posts as overwhelmingly detailed as possible for the next person that comes along with the same situation or questions. Unfortunately, this forum does not get the level of activity we'd like, but the activity it does get needs to have detailed things to consider for those that come after. Much of the knowledge of these vehicles to is approaching knowledge stored people's heads with the loss of Saturnfans.
Please come back and let us know how it's going. Feel free to create your own rebuild thread separate from this one. I am an s car Guy and have been trying desperately to beef up on my ecotec knowledge, but I've never owned one or worked on one. I do thoroughly research people's questions and provide as much confirmed information as I can from various sources.
These vehicles need to live on. They are critical part of automotive history and also reflect GMs moronic management. Too many sales taken away from Chevy, so the intentionally killed it by not letting the line expand. Blah Blah Blah.
Edit: Reorg, grammar corrections, and overblown editions of detail. No technical corrections.
