Thinking about building my engine.

[bykeryder4life]

yes you need to get it honed even if its just a little if you plan on using your stock block. you cant just pull out the stock pistons and slide in the forged internals. the stock pistons have worn in with the cylinder walls when you broke in the car and putting in brand new ones without resurfacing the cylinders would not be smart for your build. Theres no easy or cheap way to do it... you have to do it all and do it all at the same time. I wouldnt lower my compression and run the stock tune....but I donno about that stuff too much so good luck man! excited to see the outcome.

[atomicms3]

Honing can usually be done anywhere, you don't need to bolt the block into a mill or anything.

[Grim]

well,i have a friend that runs a small aftermarket mazda3 parts company and he is going to help me pull the engine,he also has a hookup with none other,Dee karagiannis, i can send him my block to get built and honed for 1100.

[bykeryder4life]

sweeeet thats the way to go then

[Speedie6]

I had asked in another thread if there was a way to just do the rods from just the bottom without pulling the head. I was told no, and I'm sure that is right. But, I just thought I'd get some extra opinions.

[CMESCOOT]

If you're going to do the rods, you'll have to do pistons too. And the motor does have to be pulled. I just went through this mayhem about three weeks ago. Good luck!

[Speedie6]

Originally Posted by CMESCOOT If you're going to do the rods, you'll have to do pistons too. And the motor does have to be pulled. I just went through this mayhem about three weeks ago. Good luck!

Okay. Well, I guess I'm not going to rush into this.

[Haltech]

You dont have to do pistons but you would be a complete idiot to pull the motor and not replace them. While you are at it, do some port matching to the head and intake while you are at it.

[Speedie6]

Originally Posted by Haltech You dont have to do pistons but you would be a complete idiot to pull the motor and not replace them. While you are at it, do some port matching to the head and intake while you are at it.

There were two reasons I was considering just the rods. For one, I had hoped there might be some easy way to get to the rods from the bottom and not have to pull the head. It appears not. And for two, I've heard people having trouble getting it tuned right after replacing heads. That the aftermarket heads are high quality I'm sure, but, that it would be different than what the ECU is expecting.

But, given that to do it, you have to do it all, then, I guess I will do that some day. By then, maybe there will be more shops with build experience on the MZR.