Engine Performance This section is for discussion on all engine building related questions.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: KPower

Went to an engine shop today...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-09-2010, 12:20 AM
  #1  
Slowest Progress Ever
Thread Starter
iTrader: (26)
 
thirdgen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,022
Total Cats: 304
Default Went to an engine shop today...

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????
thirdgen is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 07:03 AM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
neogenesis2004's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,413
Total Cats: 20
Default

All miata have floating wrist pins. If he can't remove press fit pins then he is outsourcing all his machine work.
neogenesis2004 is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 07:46 AM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (51)
 
gospeed81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 7,257
Total Cats: 26
Default

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.
gospeed81 is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 12:08 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
johnmatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Jax, Fl
Posts: 896
Total Cats: 0
Default

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
johnmatt is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 12:41 PM
  #5  
Elite Member
iTrader: (51)
 
gospeed81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 7,257
Total Cats: 26
Default

Originally Posted by johnmatt

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.
gospeed81 is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 12:51 PM
  #6  
I'm a terrible person
iTrader: (19)
 
FRT_Fun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 7,174
Total Cats: 180
Default

^^ is there a write up on how to do this? I'd rather not screw up my head. I'm good at following directions.
FRT_Fun is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 01:54 PM
  #7  
Elite Member
iTrader: (51)
 
gospeed81's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Spring, TX
Posts: 7,257
Total Cats: 26
Default

Originally Posted by FRT_Fun
^^ 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
gospeed81 is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 01:57 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
jbrown7815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Portales, NM
Posts: 831
Total Cats: 2
Default

Originally Posted by gospeed81
I'm mobile atm...but google hakuna miata
How have I not seen this site before?


jbrown7815 is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 02:13 PM
  #9  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

A machinist who doesn't own a press? lol
hustler is offline  
Old 07-09-2010, 02:32 PM
  #10  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Full_Tilt_Boogie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 5,155
Total Cats: 406
Default

Yah wtf
An arbor press is like $100
Full_Tilt_Boogie is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Full_Tilt_Boogie
Build Threads
84
04-12-2021 04:21 PM
StratoBlue1109
Miata parts for sale/trade
21
09-30-2018 01:09 PM
90 Turbo
MEGAsquirt
19
10-19-2015 03:23 PM
tazswing
Race Prep
20
10-03-2015 11:04 AM



Quick Reply: Went to an engine shop today...



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:55 PM.