Ok, so I'm getting ready to do my first full engine rebuild and I want to do it on my 89 Accord LXi. She's got at least one blown ring, maybe more, and is still kicking at 215K miles (Honda engines, wonderful aren't they?) She's been driven hard and fast since I got her with regular oil changes; the owner before me, though, neglected some of the finer points of vehicle maintenance.

My question to all of you out there is this: How difficult is this rebuild going to be for a novice rebuild mechanic like myself if I follow what my Haynes manual says for the overhaul procedure?

Question 2: What are some good places to get all of the parts for the rebuild and about how much am I looking at to get this done?

 

If you are able to pull the engine out without breaking anything or losing your mind with all the nuts and bolts you have to take out just to pull the engine then go for the overhaul!

Get a bunch of ziplocks (freezer size ) and label nuts and bolts you take out carefully.
These projects usually take longer than you wish and remembering where all those nuts and bolts go without labeling is just about impossible.

Throw that Haynes in the trash where it belongs.
Pick up a Helm manual or a Honda service manual.

Make sure you have all the basic tools for the job including a ring compressor, breaker bar, inch and foot pound torque wrenches, etc.

I also suggest you use real Honda OEM parts for the rebuild.
Honda quality stomps all over most of those aftermarket products and will last good and strong in comparison (look how far they took you so far... 200,000+ miles!!!). Don't cheap out! You can get discount prices online at places like
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/