Minimum to replace rods
 

So, I'm wanting to go in and replace rods in my engine.

I don't need pistons, oil pump, or anything else as all I'm looking for is ~250rwtq max. I'm just looking for a /very reliable/ 250rwtq, nothing more.

What's the bare (sensible) minimum? Rods and bearings? I don't think honing is required if the same pistons go into the same bores.

rods, rod bearings, headgasket, IM/EX gaskets, rear seal as a minimum.

clutch bearings as a precaution as a "while your in there" and maybe a re-ring depending on mileage

Smacking myself for forgetting the head gasket on my list, thank you Neilv. Although I have a set of FM clutch bearings in there with < 5k, so I think I'm good there. Engine has ~100k on it, so I'm fairly okay with the rings considering compression is good.

Thrust washers worth replacing?

I think it would be insanely silly not to clean up pistons, lightly hone walls, and replace rings.

Are you going to run stock oil pump? May want to add BE pump to the list too... That and what 18psi said

^What he says^

Is there anything wrong with the engine? Why not have a reliable 230 rwtq and when you're ready build the whole thing?

Rings have 100k on them. If I am still running this Miata 25k-50k from now, I'm going to be doing a fully forged rebuild on it w/a ported and cammed VVT head. I don't view it as a particular necessity to replace the rings immediately as a result.

If I still have the same Miata a few years down the road, I'll just be doing a fully forged internals build as I mentioned above.

For personal peace of mind and experience pulling the sucker apart - I don't want to have a big dollar, no expense spared build be the first time I have an engine apart.

rings are like 80-90 bux. it would take about 10 minutes to do it. with 100k on the originals I bet a good chunk of that "good compression" is due to gunk build up.

whatever, its your car lol

Where can I get rings for 80-90?

Cheapest I've found is closer to 150 - at that price, I am probably going to jump on them.

(Edit) Well, I guess I could get no-name autobone rings for $125ish + tax....Is where I am just unusually expensive or what?

(Edit^2) Holy shit. Online sets of piston rings are half the cost of suppliers locally. Thanks 18psi, I'll probably be picking rings up.

rockauto.com

"premium" chrom-moly ones were like 100 bux last time I got em.

the car still runs like a champ

Yeah. I'm going to be ordering a ton of stuff from Rockauto 18psi, I am having trouble believing they are /that/ much cheaper than local suppliers, but they are.

One part in particular is a third of the price locally!

RockAuto has rings for stock pistons at $35 for a set I believe. I know for my supertechs a set of replacement rings were about $100 from TSE. If you are trying to go cheap I would say pick up an engine rebuild on ebay here. Then pick up ebay rods for like $250 and then you are at about $500 in rebuild parts cost.

Graphite head gasket is fail@link :(.

I like your idea a lot, Shoes, and wish I would have done it from the start. Already got a timing kit to go on though.

So, what's the difference between stock pistons and these steel topped pistons:

94 97 Mazda Miata MX5 1 8L DOHC BP Engine re Ring Kit | eBay

? 'Cause that is kind of tempting to pick up - oversize pistons, MLS everything gasket-wise, and I can bore the block myself or get a mechanic friend to do it for me for cheap.

Yes it does. That's one thing I can really hand to you man. Misfire notwithstanding, this engine always sounds soooo happy. It revs freely and just sounds happy as can be to push the boost.

/threadjack

I dont see a clutch on the list but i'm assuming its on there.

Wait you are willing to spend $179 on new pistons and rings that are not forged? Honestly at that point save up an additional $200 and put in supertechs while the motor is apart.

I was wondering/planning to do the same thing.

My buddy who's built a few engines said that if you pull the pistons out of the cylinders there's no way they will go back in and get a decent seal. He recommended strongly to do a re-ring. If I do any of this (rods only, keep pistons) I will be buying one of the ball honing tools to do a quick re-hone.

Because that re-ring set, including MLS gaskets, is slightly cheaper than the gaskets I have to pick up off of Rockauto.

Secondly, as I mentioned above, I don't want to put anything high dollar into this first rebuild. I am looking for Cheap Shit I can break and not panic going "Oh shit, those were $400 pistons!!!"