OK, I figured this would be the best place to ask a question like this. My valve covers are leaking and one of my tranny mounts just broke form the oil pooling up. It smokes from behind the engine, looks like burning oil but i can't find the exact source. Also, I had some free time tonight and i replaced my spark plugs and my wires with Bosch Platinum Plugs and the highest grade of Bosch wires available at Autozone. As soon as I started it up, it ran really, really rough and I could barely get it over 25 m.p.h. I yanked all the plugs on the drivers side and they were soaked with gas. I put the old plugs along with the wires and it seems to run slightlt better. My point is, is my engine screwed or in need of a good wrench to look it over? Thanks.

 

First thing to check, make sure the plug wires are in the correct order! It's sometimes REAL easy to flip two of them around, yes, it can KILL the perforance that bad. The oil leak/smoke, start at the top. Change the valve cover gaskets first. If the leak/smoke continues, check the rear main seal area for leaks (it'll only leak while running). Also, make sure you didn't accidently unplug a sensor while you were changing out the plugs and wires.

 

I'd say you are right.
BUT you have LOTS of effort to get back to a decent square one.
What do you want to put into it?
Me?
I swap in low milage smog legal engines into good chassis'. It costs a pretty penny.
YET for about under $1800 or so, I rebuild a whole car (engine & tranny) longevity hopefully for about 15-20 years.
My Firebird is done. Yet I scored a killer stock interior! & tilt wheel today!! And AC is back in business on Monday!
I'm onto my Blazer swap now (I hope to install tranny on Sunday).
It's a tough call.
Your dollar.
Is the car really worth it to ya??