True. Well see which I use. I just talked to my engine builder and im just gonna let him get the rings and the rest of the stuff. Hopefully next week my engine will be out and off to the builders. While the engines out, ill do a mild wire tuck and general cleaning of the engine bay.

 

Forged pistons are how much more?

"I'll be happy with....." Feed that line to the wife. Please don't lie to us, even if your trying to lie to yourself. We know none of use will just be "happy with". This is the reason you are running 17+ pounds on a stock engine...

 

Lol yeah...:(

 

stop whinning about pistons ******s. rods are the weak point. pistons getting fuxorzed will result from his poor judgement in tuning and if the car develops knock. not cause they're weak

 

For $400 more, it buys a lot of piece of mind.

 

knock can easily destroy forged pistons just as well as stock pistons.
forged pistons only give you a little more wiggle room or "room for error" with tuning. they don't magically make your engine bulletproof or 5 times stronger.

I hear what you're saying, don't get me wrong: its never a bad idea to upgrade to forged.

But if it comes to being on a budget, rods>pistons every time on our engines.
If this was a subaru I'd be saying the exact opposite.

 

And I got my new rods in and im quite pleased. They are balanced MUCH closer then the advertised 4 grams:

 

Your build is evil:

 

Don't listen to that ****. You know you are going to push it, and engine builders have been using forged pistons for a reason. I have seen to many broken pistons to know not to chance it, especially with your lust for more.

The rods on a Miata are a serious weak link. But if you just put good rods in the motor, what have you created; another weak link, the pistons.

 

I dont care. Just like my engine should have grenaded by now at 19psi. Ive kicked the **** out of this engine at that level and ive been fine. Its only got about a week more to go until it comes out so if it lasts till then and I have no bent rods or other signs of fatigue, ill will be forever convinced that 300-320 rwhp on a dynojet is plenty safe for a stock block with a proper tune and no track days.

Add to that that my timing will not see over 18* and ill be using the meth again, my stock pistons will be just fine.

 

Before you pull the motor I say go for the stock mazdaspeed block record.

 

i might but it will be a 94 block record lol

speaking of record, what is the stock block record before BOOM

 

Not sure what horsepower, but the fastest 1/4 mile ET has to be from ApexOnYou with an 11.99 at 112mph. Pretty impressive.

 

Umm mkuluak (horrible spelling) wrote a few times that he did 350 without sploding.

 

I've seen a BUNCH of shattered forged pistons too. What's your point?

By that gay logic you hit a slippery slope and end up dumping 5 grand into a street miata engine. Everything on the car will become a "weak link" at a certain power level.

You could spend 1500 or 5 grand but if you **** up it will blow either way.
If you're on a budget you have to determine what power level you won't be exceeding and build accordingly IMO.
When you're just looking for 300-350 tops on a street car that doesn't get beat on around the clock you don't need a 800hp capable engine.

It would be GREAT, but its not in everyone's budget.

 

I HAD an 800 HP capable block and due to poor buildsmanship, it blew. Im going cheap and making my 350 rwhp and thats it.

 

Good point, no matter what components you run it really comes down to tune and not pushing the ancillaries beyond their capabilities. That being said, forged pistons are a nice upgrade if there is room in the budget.

Liar liar pants on fire. Leather, you are a junkie plain and simple brother. I don't think you will ever be completely satisfied, and that's cool, it's what hot rodding is all about! I honestly think once you are use to 350 hp you will want to turn it up

In a earlier post you asked about pistons, If piston strength is the same I would go with the pistons that have higher compression. Added compression helps the car drive better when out of boost, it also allows you to run a lower boost pressure to arrive at your hp goal. In my builds case, I am no where near the limits of the turbos capabilities, I like making good power and knowing that I am well under the threshold of what the set up is capable of.

 

I know im boost addict plain and simple lol. I just know though that once the car reaches a tq level that negates 123 and 4th, its time to turn it down a tad. I get no enjoyment at that point. I am leaning more towards using the msm pistons for the reason you mentioned above. Im gonna have to make a choice soon

 

the difference between off boost driveability in the 9:1 and 9.5:1 really isn't anything to write home about, I've done both routes. Just keep that in mind when making your decision.

 

My point is cast pistons are a major weak link. It is only a matter of time before they fail. Forged will go much longer, and tolerate tuning mishaps. I mean, come on, look at who we are talking about here. Leatherface has more ambitions than the average turbo junky.

You go through so much trouble to build a motor, and to not spend a few hundred on pistons IMHO is a mistake. It is not like I am suggesting to build a dry sump motor or anything.

An 800 hp motor is going to need a lot more than budget forged pistons and rods.