Have been searching all "stock piston" related discussions, but have not reached any definite conclusion on the brand of rings to use with stock pistons. I have found people recommending Sealed Power, but that's pretty much it. Problem is I cannot even find OEM ones in stock in Europe; will check with Mazda Japan next. Any other suggestions/good experiences? Also any preference between ACL and stock rod bearings?

P.S. Seems that I will have to re-think the ST valves, more than enough discussions in here lately to scare me off.

 

I bought a set of Hastings rings from eBay for my stock pistons, came from Lithuania (seller:asvela) to The Netherlands within a week. I think there is also an UK seller selling TP rings and a Polish one selling NPR rings for 1.8 BPs.
As for rod bearings: they get a beating in a turbocharged engine, so getting ACL or King racing bearings is wise I would say. For a stock motor I think any brand will do: ACL / King / etc.

 

Thanks a lot! AFAIK Hastings part number matches the one of NPR, so it leads me to the conclusion these are both made by NPR? Also, I have read comments by people stating that NPR rings have a lighter-than-stock spring tension, which I do not really like. Anyone had run in any issues with them?

 

I actually have both a set of NPRs and a set of Hastings.
The Hastings seem more universal and made in the USA, whereas the NPRs seem specific to Mazda BP and made in Japan.
They are definitely not the same, but I have no numbers and/or measurement capability to determine which are the better rings.
If anything I am not using Mazda OEM rings, as they are the sole reason I am rebuilding the stock BP in my stock MX-5 (oil consumption).