My car's at about 86,000 miles right now, and it burns oil sometimes. I've been doing some research, and here's the possibilities I have.

* Repair the burning oil problem, repairs should run between $400-$800, assuming it's just the valve seals and/or piston rings.

* Rebuild the engine, runs around $2,000-$2,500; it's getting close to 100,000 miles, and it would repair the damage to the piston rings/valve seals too, so it's one of those "eh, what the hell, might as well" solutions.

* Purchase an aftermarket engine and pay a shop to install it, prices unknown.

In your guys' opinion, which would be the best way to go? I'd love to see if I could pop a larger TPI engine into my car, but would that mean the new 3.5" Y-pipe, twin hi-flow cats, muffler, et al would need to be replaced? Or could a set of headers designed for the new engine allow my current exhaust setup to be compatible with the engine?

And does anyone have a rough estimate on how much it might cost for parts and labor if I decide to drop in, say, a 427 TPI engine? I was told in the past that my GTA could handle up to a 427 while keeping the stock look. I'd love to have the car stay stock on the outside, while at the same time, dropping the largest TPI engine possible into my engine bay.

And if I decide to drop a lower engine into my car, would there be any additional accomodations I would have to make in order for the engine to work with my car? If so, please let me know, I'm new to working with engines, and I'd like to have some idea of where I stand.

I'm not sure what exactly would be one of the better ways to go, but I'd love to have a car with more power than what it came with stock, still be fun to drive, and continue stay with a fuel-injected engine.

Car's info is in the sig.

TIA.