shaun

Just picked my 1.6 up from the machine shop and now i need a whole rebuild kit.
All i have now are internals and ring so i need it all.

Flyin' Miata : Engine/Drivetrain : Internals : FM Engine Rebuild Kit

was planning on getting this but wanted to know if there were cheaper or better kits out there that im not finding cause it seems pretty expensive, but what do i know

Would appreciate some input. Thanks guys!

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Plenty cheaper. Doubt there's any that are better quality though. You can probably source all the stuff from the OEM warehouses for a bit less, but its pretty convenient to buy from FM

curly

iTrader: (25)

I've had good luck with autozone felpro stuff. If you sign up for their email service you get 20% off coupons often, you have until the 18th to use DEC20 to get 20% off anything shipped to home over $100, plus free shipping.

So a rebuild kit + spark plugs + oil filter + thermostat would be $183, but you have to buy it as "head gasket set" and "conversion set" but I think those two include everything in the "full gasket set" that they don't offer any more.

Beyond that you'll need a timing belt and pulleys which is another $60 + shipping from 949. Also, dunno if you need one, but I wouldn't trust PVC valves from autozone, spend the $21 + shipping at FM for theirs. Add another $16 for lube and RTV from autozone, they won't ship those.

And don't forget the PCV grommet, oil cap o-ring, and valve seals included in FM's kit, very helpful. That'll be another $140 shipped from Rosenthal.

So all said and done it'll be $433 to ship from four places and still have to drive to your local car store. You can see why FM's kit isn't ridiculous in price, especially when you add a fair bit of quality* and the convenience of ordering all from one place.

The real savings comes from not having to purchase all this stuff, like if you already have a PCV valve, oil filter, plugs, or any other part sitting around.

*I've had issues with Autozone kits not fitting properly, mainly with o-rings. **** like the oil filter o-ring, CAS o-ring, etc. Not **** you want to do twice if it fails, and you won't have to both with it from FM.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

Good discussion here. Of course then there is the bottom tier ebay gaskets. I've done it before and had good luck, and I've also had some bad luck on some cam seals that were a PITA to replace. Ebay seems pretty hit or miss. Things like front/rear main seals, cam seals, head gaskets, etc. I wouldn't go ebay.

I would still buy the mitsuboshi timing belts, GB pullies, etc. and GB waterpump because I've had great luck with those.

curly

iTrader: (25)

Even paper gaskets from the bay suck. Get the wrong ones and they just get water logged and leak.

Fireindc

iTrader: (13)

When I put them on i always use a thin layer of RTV on both sides and they've worked fine without leaks.

Although not all ebay gaskets are created equal, i'm sure they are all hit or miss. That's why i'd not recommend using them on anything that's too hard to get to

concealer404

iTrader: (3)

That's how i roll. RTV on all paper gaskets.


Just don't **** up and put RTV on a metal "crush" gasket. Ask me how i found out.