What rods and piston should I go with? I don't have much to spend. 1,000 is my buget. What are people on this forum using for aftermarket internals. Where can I find the best price?

 

$1k for the whole motor, or just rods and pistons?

 

$1k for rods and pistons? FM Weiscos are about $600, ETD rods are $400.

$1k for the motor? You're high.

 

http://www.belfabracing.com/index.php?cPath=263_518
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Marc at M-tuned/ETD says they basically took the design that ETD contracted them to make and started pumping out rods. ETD decided to go with someone else due to QC concerns on the Belfab rods. Same rods, but the ETDs are higher quality. For only $100 more, that's money well spent (even if it's just peace of mind).

 

belfab doesn't look bad at all. has anyone had good luck with there piston/rod combo?

 

 

Eagle, ETD, and K1 make quality rods, and Pauter makes exceptional rods. Maybe try to find someone besides FM to get pistons from, if you look hard enough, you might just get them cheaper...

<cough> miataroadster <cough>

 

no, I don't want a whole motor. Just rods and piston. I've been looking at FM and they are pretty pricy for the rods. I think the piston are okay. I also found them on ebay for a better price. thanks for the info guys.

 

you cant just slap in rods and pistons and call it a day you know.

 

I asked Jeremy once what the differences were between Weisco's Miata pistons and the FM Weiscos and he listed enough differences to convince me that FM's Weiscos are actually better pistons. They aren't that expensive, either; $580 isn't absurd. ($1k for rods is, though. **** that.)

OP, you need at least a thousand dollars in gaskets and machine work just to install the forged internals. You know that, right?

 

I do know that i'll have to change the head gasket, get some stronger head stud and head resurface. ****, is there more work thn just that? I guess I can cough up another grand for machine work and gasket.

 

ugh, you'll need around $1k for machine work alone (we are talking checking head and block, valve job, bore and hone, just basic stuff). then you will need all the gaskets, bearings, seals, and it is a really good time to replace the oil pump, water pump, timing belt, hoses etc. so that you dont ruin your new engine... and then you'll need to buy anything else you find broken while its apart. oh yeah, and how is your clutch?

The lower cost rods and pistons really help a lot, but you still have to pay to play. I dont see how you could build a half *** decent miata engine for $3k or less... a good one will be much, much more. Sinking in $5-$6k is real easy.

 

Hustler built his shortblock for $2k. $1000 in machine work is a ripoff.

 

Our Rods are currently at $399 and will be in stock mid next week. You can purchase them at M-Tuned.com

 

Really, what could be *that* different? Thermal coatings??

Oh, and You're smokin' some bad crack.. put the pipe down! $1000.00 for gaskets and machine work!? Where the hell do you get machine work done at? I had my block crack checked, decked, bored, honed, and cleaned for $110.00! Had this old school racer down from my familys company take care of it. Told me it was the smallest motor he had ever worked on, but all his work checked out 100%. For gaskets, maybe I get a better discount @ mazda than I thought because I spent < 300$ grand total to replace every gasket and seal on my cars current motor. Now The $550.00 to repair my cracked cylinder head...Yeah. :(

 

I obviously dont know WTF I'm talking about.

 

This whole "HAHAH **** FM" bit is getting awfully old. At least have a reason to do it before you rag on them.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=269404 Start at post 6, Jeremy lists differences in 7, Keith says their design is less prone to rocking in the bore (quieter on startup) in 8.

When I said "gaskets and machine work" I meant machine work, gaskets, bearings, ARP studs, and a head gasket. I did figure on machine work being like $400 of that, though, so $110 is a bangin deal. Hopefully I can find a guy like that around here when I do my build.

 

I think their prices are pretty high on most everything they sell. I would ASSume Wiesco has adapted whatever design they did for FM to all their other pistons. Someone could call Wiesco to confirm/deny this mystery. I read that thread and nothing he mentioned is of much merit IMO.