So I did an oil change on my miata and found a whole lotta glitter and metal shavings in the oil, so its rebuild time. The bottom end i'm not worried about, as I stopped driving the car before it had a chance to throw a rod so i know i can rebuild it, but what I'm concerned about is the head. I know our heads don't have bearings so if the surface where the cams sit is messed up then the head is Fubar. I have an NA8 motor in the car, and I have a bare NB1 head sitting on a shelf as a future upgrade. If my NA8 Head is damaged, what can I transfer from the valve train? From the research I did, I know I can re-use my valves, springs, and retainers, but what about cams and lifters? NB1 cams and lifters are kind of expensive to buy to new compared to NA8 stuff and I will also have less options of new and used compared to the NA8 stuff as well. If got NA8 cams and Lifters could I used them in an NB1 head? Bonus question, if my NA8 heads is messed up, is getting it fixed a machine shop possible/ financially worth it?

 

I don't think Cam's will swap over. Lifters are different. Valve springs might work. But honestly if you have a completely bare NB head, it would probably be cheaper to just find a complete VVT head then trying to piece meal your bare one together.

 

Damn, here's to hoping thats its just the bottom end that needs rebuilding.