Ok so I have a 04 engine with 47k on it ready to swap in. But I want to make 250 today and maybe 300 someday.
What would be involved in just changing the rods to h beams from ebay with arp rods.

What would I need from a work/parts department. I did search and I know I need:

Head gasket(what kind should I look for cost matters)
oil pan gasket

H beam Rods
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAZDA1-6L-1-...item5d337c1315

Rod bearings (what kind should I look for cost matters)

things I might need what do yall think
oil pump
timing belt


Do i need any machine work.If i keep original pistons do i need to change rings? I figured I would not even take out crank.
Do I need to replace head bolts. arp?

Is it silly to not change to lower comp pistons?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-97-Mazda-...item19ce6ff3c3

Are these ok?

what about wrist pin. If I keep stock piston will stock pin be ok to reuse.
New piston new pin?


Are cheap 94-97 like these worth swapping out

 

 

I cant see the last reply but if it had to do with searching I did.
What I am trying to figure out is with a newer engine can I just change the rods and if so how and is it a good idea.

 

https://www.miataturbo.net/general-miata-chat-9/pricing-mild-build-15045/
read this one and many others but none where as new of an engine as mine or had the higher compresion of 01-05 engines.

 

Even if you keep the high-comp slugs, I would have the block honed and replace the rings. I would also do all of the bearings, and not just the rod bearings.

Stock pistons are fine at 250, but they are probably a little fragile at 300whp. You will have very, very little margin for error in the tune before you crack a ringland, moreso because it's a 10:1 motor.

 

Can I just go with the ebay pistons listed or should I look for 94-97 stockers

 

Anybody got an answer for this?

Are ebay pistons advisable?

 

I'm also interested in the necessity of ARP main and head studs, at what sort of power levels and or revs should you be worried about the stock studs holding the motor together?

 

Can't answer the rest, but the OEM head gasket is fine and what you should continue to use.

 

Curly I am also interested in the Ebay pistons for possible cheap ************ rebuild. You know, for the 250-350 or so that the OEMs might not quite cut it.

 

oems will cut 250
and 300
at 350 you should be building the car RIGHT and not skimping on things, and if you are then you're a dumbass

But like you guys, I'm kinda curious about the fleagay pistons, though I probably wouldn't run them on my cars ever, even if they weren't that bad. Too many OEM ones available at the local pick-n-pulls to experiment with ebay stock replacement pistons.

 

Yeah, but you have plentiful E85. If I could get some 8.5:1 china pistons that would be good for 300 that would be perfect for a gt2560 or gt2860.

Just wild speculation really. If I decide to open the engine up I would most likely do it the right way.

 

What about the OEM vs ARP studs guys? Is there a HP limit for OEMs?

 

I broke a main stud at 350whp. It destroyed the entire motor. Decide for yourself if you want to risk it over $80.

As far as I know, nobody's ever broken a factory head stud, but that's probably because anyone who's making much more than 300whp isn't stupid enough to risk running a factory head stud. I'm not tempted to be the guinea pig like I was on the main studs, so all of our motors get head studs too.

 

Ebay makes pistons?

 

Yeah, everyone trusts "their" rods, it sounds like who ever buys the pistons will be the guinea pig, but I'm going with some stockers. I haven't heard anyone say "**** no" yet though.

 

Any engine build I will do is not in the near future, so I will keep researching.

And yeah, sometimes "their" rods, for instance, are probably manufactured at the same factory probably using the same design as the name brand ones (since they don't worry too much about "IP" laws in China).

Maybe "their" pistons suck, but it might be you could get nearly the same thing for 1/3rd of the price.