Soo, I melted my pistons. The cylinder walls still look decent, except for some aluminum buildup on one of them. I plan to bring the block to a machine shop and have them check it out and do whatever it is they have to do. I'm having a friend guide me through this and help out by putting things back together, but I need to order parts now.

What should I all order? I don't have money to drop on expensive pistons, etc.

I don't ever plan to run over 300whp, and for the next year or so, it won't be anywhere above 250whp.

The head is off and the bottom end is all apart. I think we can reuse the timing belt, but other than that, what parts do I need to order that you guys would recommend?

So far, I believe I need crank bearings, pistons, and rings. Along with a complete gasket set for everything. Anyone have recommendations on what kind or where to get things from, or additional things that I should order? I suppose now is the time I should look into a coolant reroute and new motor mounts.

Is it bad that I'm considering this?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-Proteg...a5e9bc&vxp=mtr

I attached some pictures. I believe the 3rd one of the hole in the block is supposed to be like that, correct?

 

just buy another junkyard motor and put it in until you have $$$ to properly build an engine.

 

I'm far from an engine builder, but if money is tight enough that you're not going to upgrade the rods and everything else checks out, I'd try to find some good condition used 1.8 pistons, replace the headgasket, and put her all back together. If the timing belt and waterpump haven't been replaced in a few years you really should go ahead and swap them when you're in there.

 

^^^What that guy said^^^

And by that guy I mean the guy that said to put a junkyard motor in it until you can afford to build the motor properly.

 

If your heart is set on rebuilding and you find your motor is still within spec I have some pistons in good shape and new rings i was going to use until i bought some supertechs.

water pump
oil pump
bearings
headbolts/studs
gasket kit

some just inspect the oil pump. bogus has a write up on how to inspect one.

 

A junkyard will run you as much as the machine shop's labor, you'd be crazy to do anything but junkyard engine from what you've said.

 

THIS




There's no reason to budget build a motor.

 

So, thoughts on that link in the first post to the eBay rebuild kit? It doesn't seem like normal eBay junk to me...

I have this motor that got fucked up, and I also have a Miata parts car that has a motor with 140k but the crank and timing belt are all messed up on. I bought it for parts because the guy I bought it from didn't tighten the crank nut down all the way and the crank wobbled and broke the keyway and gouged the crankshaft.

I don't know if I should put the two together and make it work or just refresh this one. I don't need it to handle any more than 250whp. I'm not poor, but junkyards around here want ~$1000 for a used motor with higher mileage. It's ridiculous. Someone inform me on what you'd do on a budget given my situation.

 

You get a long block at a pick and pull for $200 in DC area. Don't look for junk yards that have an inventory - those are like 2x as expensive. What you want is a junk yard that has a fixed price list, is extremely shady and generally in the middle of nowhere. Example of local one - HOME

Regarding your ebay link, I'm pretty sure I bought my timing belt from the same seller. It had some odd parts (timing belt pulleys were black and looked nothing like any other pulley I've seen) it worked alright. Except the valve cover gasket was a piece of crap.

So while it worked out for me with the timing belt it's a bit of a gamble.

The biggest advantage to buying a junkyard engine is that you'll be back on the road in a week tops. Then, if you still want to build your engine, you can at your own pace.

 

buy someone else built motor. there is a semibuilt bp motor in Canada for $700

 

You try the junkyard down in Neenah? Can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Pretty sure it was west of 41 and and an exit before Ballard. Had a huge field of cars like and looked like a damn desert. There were definitely some BPs there. A buddy and I robbed a couple for parts to do the exhintake cam swap like 5 years ago.

Also, just wait and find a junkyard/used motor. I'm nearing the end of my motor build and even though I'm going fully built, part of me wishes I had just thrown in a used stocker. At least I would be driving the car right now instead of staring at it in a million pieces. You might even see something pop up on here. You can get a motor shipped from anywhere for ~$200.

 

Car-part.com :-)

 

I'll take a look at some local Pick N Pulls. Most don't have Miatas though.

I'll keep searching for stuff online, I might just go with this:
Flyin' Miata : Engine/Drivetrain : Internals : FM Engine Rebuild Kit

But then could I re-use the pistons from my parts motor with 140k after getting my cylinders checked out and refreshed? I'd get a new oil pump as well, but if I could re-use my pistons with new rings and just buy that FM kit, that sounds like a good idea to me.

Link?

Yeah, Gibsons. I've checked there a few times but can never find Miatas. Maybe I'll go look this Saturday.

Always use it, everyone wants $$$ for motors.

 

Kia Sephia, Escort GT - there are other cars with BPs

 

I found an Escort GT, what subtle differences would I deal with if I got a motor from that?

Also, can I get a rebuild kit but use the pistons from my parts car if I decide to rebuild my current motor?

 

a bp is a bp

 

Valve cover will be different -> use your current
Sensors might be different -> use your current
Might not even have a CAS but the hole is there for it, so -> use your current
All water connections will probably be different, including the water necks -> use your current
Oil pan will *probably* be different -> use your current


Basically take everything off, install your crap. Just DON'T open the engine up. There might be other things, but nothing a college student won't be able to figure out.
More info - http://www.solomiata.com/BP8.php


You could. However, your block is probably fucked and will need to be bored to a larger size. So your pistons will be too small.

 

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep my eyes out.

And I don't think so, some how the cylinder walls look good. Just some aluminum buildup from the melting. Nothing grenaded...

 

This is helpful too

Escort GT 1.8 L in a 91 Miata

 

Thanks. Found a long block in Chitown for $450. Higher mileage, unknown condition. Not sure if I should make the drive or build mine.