There is a "performance specialist" near me that recently moved even closer to me (15minutes away, now 10 minutes away), and I stopped there today and asked a few questions.
They specialize in Rotary's, but also do work on BP engines and headwork. Example: They have about 2 dozen RX7's there, but they had a Honda S2000 that they said they just redid the head on. I told the owner of the place that I plan on doing a block build possibly late fall / early winter. I said I'd pull everything and drop the complete block off with the head. I mentioned that I want the block honed and new rings installed. I think he said he could do it, and it would take brand new stock sized rings. Then I told him that I plan on going with a bigger turbo, and I would install new rods because rods are the BP's weak point. He said he'd have to send the pistons and the new rods out, because the wrist pins get pressed in. Is that a fact? I never had a 4 cyl Miata engine apart, but I assumed they had clips? As far as my cyl head, I stated that on a non VVT BP application, the '99 head is supposedly the way to go, but I want it to be gone over. He said they could port and polish it, and basically whatever else I'd need done.
So here's what I'm thinking:
Stock pistons on M-tuned rods...balanced everything
New bearings
Hone / re-ring
As far as head work, suggestions????

 

All miata have floating wrist pins. If he can't remove press fit pins then he is outsourcing all his machine work.

 

Wow, your local NAPA can do a pin fit, about $15 a pop.

Time to start reading up on doing it yourself. If you don't need a rebore (just hone) and can learn to properly use plastigauge then it can all be done in your garage save the wrist pins.

 

You could do all that yourself and save yourself a ton of money. I let the machine shop put my pistons/rods together for $5 each since they were already doing an overbore

Edit: Porting the head isnt' all that bad either since you're not actually porting anything just smoothing all the casting flaws. I had alot of fun doing mine and I'm about to do another for a member here

 

+1 to this...I'm doing one right now. Not going on my car, but makes me want to do one for myself too. The Miata head nearly tells you what to do once you've got it apart.

 

^^ is there a write up on how to do this? I'd rather not screw up my head. I'm good at following directions.

 

I'm mobile atm...but google hakuna miata

 

How have I not seen this site before?

 

A machinist who doesn't own a press? lol

 

Yah wtf
An arbor press is like $100