OH NO!!! engine blown!

[hello2000]

Yeah as you can see my engine blew last night. I was driving on I40 at about 70mph in 5th gear. I noticed a sound like something was draging the ground. All of a sudden, The engine blew and smoke came out the back. I pulled over on the shoulder and seen that oil was every where. There is a big whole in the side of my engine. I towed it to mazda to see what the cost is and they estimated about $5100 to fix it. I am trying to find someone local that can do it for cheaper. I was figuring if the price for new internals was close to aftermarket, I would get aftermarket ones instead. I have a short video clip of the incident.
http://www.smoothnetdesign.com/engineblow(high).mpg - High Bandwidth
http://www.smoothnetdesign.com/engineblow(low).mpg - Low Bandwidth

[RAAZ227]

I think I hear detonation....

[DSMConvert]

hehe well that doesnt tell us much...got any aftermath pics of the engine...how did it blow...did it blow a ring or send a rod through the block? I'm assuming from your description it was the latter, which basically means you're fucked....you'll have to get a whole new block at the least.....that sucks man.....what psi were you running day to day?

[low_psi]

damn :( definately get forged internals for your new motor and some engine management... how much boost?

[RyanJayG]

damn... though internals aren't going to fix your problem ;)

just find a boneyard FS shortblock (a later one, so it has the casting updates and forged crank) and build it with forged stuff... WAY cheaper than what Mazda quoted you...

[mp5jeff]

buy a new short block with forged internals...

[mp5jeff]

nevermind ryan beat me to it

[mp5jeff]

btw you can get a shortblock for a few hundred bucks from a junkyard.

[low_psi]

EMS>forged internals

but if you've got a motor open :)

[igdrasil]

Been there man...it hurts...

Get a spare motor...MPI or any other fuel/ignition management unit and forged internals

Motor ~$800
ECU ~$1000
Forged Internals ~$1200

[hello2000]

I get the car back tommorrow, I will take some pics. Yes I busted a rod through the block. There is a big whole in the side of my engine. I was boosting 12psi with 93 octane gas. If you listen close on the video, it sounds like something was rattleing around.

[RyanJayG]

oh, trust me.. you DONT have to "listen closely"

also, the AEM EMS will be available from MAM soon... you might want to consider this option as well.. full plug-and-play

[hello2000]

lol

[mp5jeff]

that rattling = detonation = you should let off the gas

[hello2000]

I think once I get this fixed, I am going to get out to the MSP performance all together and use it as a daily driver. I just can't afford to suffer this loss.

[RyanJayG]

if that is the case then dont bother with forged internals, just find a shortblock under 30k-40k miles

[hello2000]

What do you think guys? is it worth it? If i put the forged internals in, would the engine be more stable?

[RyanJayG]

not at stock boost levels.... not necissary...

[hello2000]

Is the engine block the same as the regular 2.0L Protege?

[mp5jeff]

yes

[RyanJayG]

identical (save for the top part of the oil pan)... for the oil return line, but you can just use the MSP one when you put it together

[igdrasil]

yep...all the same! FSDE 2.0L for the MP3, Protege, MSP and Protege5. Also found in MX6, 626 and Probe.

[hello2000]

Sweet!! It should be easy to find then. I will prolly go with forged internals along with it.

[igdrasil]

damn,....this is the first time I hear detonation SO LOUD!!!!

[RyanJayG]

yeah... it is pretty stunning how loud it was... I guess most people (not trying to insult you hello2000) lift before it gets that loud...

also, I would recomend Oliver Rods and CP pistons. contact Beau (MAMotorsports) and order some. I think there is a special runnning on them right now.

these are the best, hands down. I have them.

[hello2000]

do you know how much they are?

[MSP #167]

why did you have the camera out in the first place?


BTW, that really sucks

[NeverSober]

Were you just cruising in 5th or were you on it? How long have you been running 12psi? What other mods do you have...jsut curious


Chris

[hello2000]

I was just crusing in 5th and my mods are listed below. I have been running 12psi for about a month. I was running 10psi before. The reason I had the camera out was I was going video me racing some cars locally.

[RyanJayG]

do you know how much they are?
$1300, $1350.. something like that... also they are custom made, and you can have them set up for stock bore, or an overbore if you want...

also, as a side note the rods aren't just forged, they are billet.. and are very nice to look at.

[zzooomm]

Everyone will blow up their engine in the speed it is just a matter of time. Shitty rods. If you order forged internals be prepared to wait a long time. I have waited 14 weeks and the rods do not fit into the block. I had to overnight them to Oliver at a cost of 50 bucks. This sucks because I still have to make the car payment while it sits in the garage. BE PREPARED TO WAIT A LONG TIME FOR PISTONS ANS RODS. (bike)

[Bhamsan]

I should copy and paste this thread into all the other threads made by people saying that you can run higher boost without any worries. Seems like there has been a lot of those threads around here lately.

Sorry about your loss man. How much if the AEM EMS going to run for? I'm looking into getting a EMS, but I don't want anything too complicated to install, and PnP is really nice. I'm looking at Unichip, but I want to do a bit more tuning than it allows. AEM might be a good option, but I am faily new to it.

[zzooomm]

That's funny because all of us who have blown our motors have said the same thing," I am running 15 lbs of boost with no problems!" This should be the MSP Motto

[hello2000]

Yeah...I would like everyone to know, you CANNOT run 12psi with stock internals. It was only a matter of time. I just got boost crazy when I felt the 12psi. You can upgrade the intake, FMIC all day long, but if you don't get the internals replaced--you will left without a car just like me.




I should copy and paste this thread into all the other threads made by people saying that you can run higher boost without any worries. Seems like there has been a lot of those threads around here lately.

Sorry about your loss man. How much if the AEM EMS going to run for? I'm looking into getting a EMS, but I don't want anything too complicated to install, and PnP is really nice. I'm looking at Unichip, but I want to do a bit more tuning than it allows. AEM might be a good option, but I am faily new to it.

[igdrasil]

The problem is...you can blow the engine even at low boost level...it just takes some more time.

Higher boost = need management.

A small bliss of detonation (for example) @ 40psi on forged internals will blow something too. If its not the rods, then the pistons, gasket or any other thing....the 1st weakest link after piston and rod.

[igdrasil]

In the mean time, download some videos for fun...:

http://usuarios.lycos.es/rnspeed/HINVideo.htm

[StreakinOraNgeX]

Daym you had a fmic with 93 octane and blew you engine at 12..fuck now Im scared to be boostin 10 psi with fmic and full exhaust. Maybe im jus bein paranoid but good luck with the new motor en stuff. I would be on the verge of suicide if I was you. Sorry man.

[Bhamsan]

Yep, and it seems as if more engines are going to be blown because people are running 16psi on stock internals with no EMS. Then, people get all mad because others are trying to warn them that its not good for the engine, even though there are more than a few members on this board who have blown their engines, even at low boost. When are people going to learn?

To be honest, I thought 12psi to be a safe level to boost. I was going to turn it up to 10psi, but I didn't have a FCD and still don't. I think I'll get Unichip and run it at 10psi for a while until I can get another EMS that I can tune to run 15psi. I believe that on stock internals, the engine will hold up with correct tuning at 15psi, not the other way around doing forged internals with no EMS at 15psi.

Definitely go with EMS, and if you can get it, forged internals as well. It'll all help you out in the long run.

[ARunto]

is your FCD hooked up all the time. it does sound like your car was detonating. i know the FCD will alter the fuel and timing maps and on certain cars can detonate at high rpm or heavy load. this is why it's recommended to put the FCD on a switch and to use high octane gas.

[igdrasil]

And who the hell is this guy??? DAMN!!!!! Thats a damn fast P5

http://home.comcast.net/~c_will/CWillVsTheWorld.WMV

[igdrasil]

Thats why you blew it...

You built 12psi on low rpm in 5th gear...THATS HELLOFALOAD!!!

EDIT...

[hello2000]

I didn't have my FCD installed

[mp5jeff]

name is chris, he lives in fl, runs low 14s at 97

[StreakinOraNgeX]

IM a really paranoid person cuz I really can't afford a blown motor so not to make it all about me me me but is it safe for me to be at 10 psi on 91 octane with fmic, 3 inch exhaust intake, colder plugs....

[hello2000]

No, it spikes at 12psi...when I'm in 5th gear usually it stays around 10psi

[hello2000]

I wouldn't do it, untill you upgrade internals. Our engine's are weak, think about it they are same as the protege. They are not made to race.




IM a really paranoid person cuz I really can't afford a blown motor so not to make it all about me me me but is it safe for me to be at 10 psi on 91 octane with fmic, 3 inch exhaust intake, colder plugs....

[igdrasil]

what timming does the MSP runs???

[TurfBurn]

I don't think 15 psi even with good management is a good idea. My MP3 motor popped at 10 psi with no other issues or anything present, was running rich and then pop! It had seen as high as 16 psi or so previously... and I think that is what did it in. All forged for me!

[Bhamsan]

Isn't it more important to have the exhaust side (DP and catback) opened up when you run higher boost, and not so much the intake side (FMIC and Intake)? That is my impression, that the stock DP will cause more backpressure than the engine can hold at higher boost?

[t3ase]

holy shit.

[ARunto]

Isn't it more important to have the exhaust side (DP and catback) opened up when you run higher boost, and not so much the intake side (FMIC and Intake)? That is my impression, that the stock DP will cause more backpressure than the engine can hold at higher boost?
Yes

[Bhamsan]

Think the backpressure got to him?

[NeverSober]

Well, I have raced the car at 16psi, I run 12-13 daily, and I know that a few others do too. I have had no problems with the motor at this psi, and I have been running higher boost since 6k miles, I am almost at 21k now. Also, Yashooa has been running 12psi for quite some time. So to say it is not safe to run that high is not true. It all depends on the situation and how you drive the car. I beat the shit out of my car, I won't lie, But I don't boost high in 4th or 5th gear. And If I can help it I won't boost at all in those 2 gears. Boosting that high in 5th gear puts a biiiig load on the engine.


Chris

[Brian MP5T]

Isn't it more important to have the exhaust side (DP and catback) opened up when you run higher boost, and not so much the intake side (FMIC and Intake)? That is my impression, that the stock DP will cause more backpressure than the engine can hold at higher boost?
Just remove the cat and the backpressure issue is lessened!

[celdridge]

Yeah as you can see my engine blew last night. I was driving on I40 at about 70mph in 5th gear. I noticed a sound like something was draging the ground. All of a sudden, The engine blew and smoke came out the back. I pulled over on the shoulder and seen that oil was every where. There is a big whole in the side of my engine. I towed it to mazda to see what the cost is and they estimated about $5100 to fix it. I am trying to find someone local that can do it for cheaper. I was figuring if the price for new internals was close to aftermarket, I would get aftermarket ones instead. I have a short video clip of the incident.
http://www.smoothnetdesign.com/engineblow(high).mpg - High Bandwidth
http://www.smoothnetdesign.com/engineblow(low).mpg - Low Bandwidth

I dont think anyone has even mentioned the fact .... WHY WERE YOU VIDEOTAPING DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD !!!! ... HAHA

[ARunto]

I dont think anyone has even mentioned the fact .... WHY WERE YOU VIDEOTAPING DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD !!!! ... HAHA
he did say he was gonna tape him racing some locals.

-Alan

[Vassago]

Well, this has convinced me, I,m gonna take off my MBC and put it on my SR20 instead. Not worth the risk.

[ARunto]

Well, this has convinced me, I,m gonna take off my MBC and put it on my SR20 instead. Not worth the risk.
why not just keep it below 10psi?

[2K3 MSP]

Daym you had a fmic with 93 octane and blew you engine at 12..fuck now Im scared to be boostin 10 psi with fmic and full exhaust.
(werd)
I'm back down to 10psi, but for a while I was running 11, with DP-back exhaust on 91 octane. 47,000 miles on the odometer and she's still running strong. **knock on wood**

[MazdaspeedNJ]

holy shit.
holy shit

[Emode]

did you not have any exhaust of any kind? Thats not very safe if you have upped the boost, all that heat has a hard time of escaping. Thats why I got an exhaust first, then the fmic.


EDIT: Sorry this is what happens when I post before I read the second page, didnt realize this revelation was already realized....:)

[CustomMSP]

did you not have any exhaust of any kind? Thats not very safe if you have upped the boost, all that heat has a hard time of escaping. Thats why I got an exhaust first, then the fmic. That's what I think was the problem is here...makes me :eek: just from thinking about this fact. My car stopped accelerating after 40 mins of one of our local fun runs on stock exhaust running 9psi. Then when I got a catless dp, I could go on for hours of same kind of driving and the car would perform the same throughout.

[BlkZoomZoom]

It's only a matter of time...........lol. I wonder how long it will take mine before it blows up....you'd think after 300 1/4 mile passes it would've done it....oh well. I think everybody should go to a bone yard, pick up a spare fs/de with less than 17k for 450$. Then tell your current motor you have it and you don't care if it blows up......it's been working for me so far. lol.

[speedhawaii]

wow on 70mph in 5th. sad to hear man. rebuild and destroy

[ARunto]

It's only a matter of time...........lol. I wonder how long it will take mine before it blows up....you'd think after 300 1/4 mile passes it would've done it....oh well. I think everybody should go to a bone yard, pick up a spare fs/de with less than 17k for 450$. Then tell your current motor you have it and you don't care if it blows up......it's been working for me so far. lol.
dang your a drag whore with 300 passes on a stock motor!!

-Alan

[speedhawaii]

some people dont even make 300 passes in their lifetime

[BlkZoomZoom]

lol 2 years straight of wednesday nights and every other saturday...avg of 7 runs on wed. and 9 on saturday. Only broke the lsd sofar (and that was right after auto x). Thats why I'm glad I finally got the scamp straightened out. The really scary thing is I still have within 3psi of compression between all cyl. when comparing to it with 36miles on it (first time I brought it to the track).

[thunder]

A turbo is not an "unlimited" power thing... should never boost at the max for more than 15 secs, and avoid boosting in 5th gear altogether, even at stock boost!
sorry for the motor...

[ARunto]

How long did your stock clutch last?

[BlkZoomZoom]

Never actually failed, still sitting under my toolbox with the flywheel. I estimate around 7k miles and well over 230 quarter mile passes. I just replaced it because I had to install the lsd so I figured what the heck.

[1sty]

Well, I have raced the car at 16psi, I run 12-13 daily, and I know that a few others do too. I have had no problems with the motor at this psi, and I have been running higher boost since 6k miles, I am almost at 21k now. Also, Yashooa has been running 12psi for quite some time. So to say it is not safe to run that high is not true. It all depends on the situation and how you drive the car. I beat the shit out of my car, I won't lie, But I don't boost high in 4th or 5th gear. And If I can help it I won't boost at all in those 2 gears. Boosting that high in 5th gear puts a biiiig load on the engine.


ChrisIts amazing how many times I have made the statement that nothing about the MSP is ment to handle 12 psi+. Its funny that only when someone pops and engine will anyone listen. Any other tiem I get the typical, "You don't own an MSP" stupidity. Like you said, its about style and time. There are alot of setup factors though. If you notice, he had a reflashed ECU which if I recall leans out the mix and adds some timing back in. Thats not a good thing when running totaly untuned boost. Untuned boost is any that the car is not setup to handle, and since the ECU is not programmed for the added boost, then its unsafe. Hell even when combined with a piggy back it can be unsafe if the tuning is bad and not alot of people get it right.

Additionaly a front mount intercooler will only help fight the intake air heat part of detination, its not much of a safety net if one at all.

Its going to take some nasty detiniation to kill an engine all at once, but even very slight and inaudible detination will claim an engine over time. RPM, Boost, timing, fuel pressure,Injector Duty cycle, spark timing, Fuel octane, Intake air temperature and boost are all MAJOR factors in a proper running engine. Throw one out of wack for too long and your going to be buying a new engine.

Its all about doing things safely. Any car can crank the boost and make some runs, however, take that same car and have it be a daily driver with alor mor veried and constant strains and the impact of a bad setup can become even more obvious.

The reality is that modifing a protege isn't worse or alot harder then another car. The fact is that modifing any vehical to go from 130 to 200 hp is risky. Its made even more so when the only safety factor for the car is luck. Many of the people here that really dig into the protege have never tuned a car before let alone played with boost, fuel and timing maps.

One of the reasons I got the Subaru was that I was coming to realize that alot of the aftermarket perfomance industry is gear to make people believe that tuning and perfomance is a simple task. Its not. Most comapnies will do anything to make it seem like just a few bolt on parts or an adjusted know here or there will make the car something different. It won't and those parts always have side effects. I realized I was in way over my head to take the next step of dealing with a totaly built engine and EM. In looking back on it I am still trying to figure out what the hell made me think that with no experience I could successfully double the power of my daily driver with no problems. There are ALWAYS problems and rather they tell you or not 99% of the people trying it have them.

In automotive perfomance, often the results aren't known until the engine has a 5" by 5" hole in it. This wasn't something I could risk nor was I capable of definitly preventing it. It can be done and be done very well, but no one without alot of experience should be doing it with a brand new $20K car that is their daily driver. Thisgoes for any car. Even though the MAzda is a pain because its still in its adolescence of developement for perfomance, any car will have issues. I know a guy with a 97 civic that have gone threw multiple engines. I have other buddies that have cooked subaru's, DSM, Cameros, and nissan sentras. They all played the same game and losed. If you really need to do this, then get a cheap project car or at very least get a bajesus of gauges of outstanding quality, like widebands, fuel pressure, knock sensors...ect to be sure as sure as possible that you have it right.

[Brian MP5T]

^^^ Nuff said man! That about sums it all up.

____Thread Closed____ J/K!

[DSMConvert]

Hmm wow after reading your list of mods I was baffled that you didnt have any exhaust....I can tell you almost for a fact that stock exhaust with those kind of boost levels is what killed your motor...just talked it over with a local turbo builder and he confirmed my suspicions...what happened more than likely is that the increased back pressure caused severely hotter and higher pressures in the exhaust ports and in turn into the cylinders...in addition it made it "harder" for the valves to open and let the latter gases out meaning that the back pressure basically caused hotter/higher cylinder conditions 2 ways...the valve part I actually got out of an old ASE small engines book...though it said most of the time in a sohc or dohc you should of felt a slight shudder before the boom due to the cam gears "binding" up....if i can find my old excel exhaust temp spread sheets I could probably calculate and tell you what the normal cylinder temp/pressure is compared to what you probably had due to your setup....whatever the reason it still sucks, and def is a warning sign for everyone who thinks they can just crank up the boost with out proper computer control.....

[thunder]

totally agreed :) there's a diff. btw "modding" and "tuning"...

[1sty]

totally agreed :) there's a diff. btw "modding" and "tuning"...
If your going to start spell checking me then your going to be here all night.(cryhard)

[thunder]

If your going to start spell checking me then your going to be here all night.(cryhard)
lol! Actually I wanted to say that indeed tuning is a lot more than just to slap a "dyno proven" bolt-on to a car (which I call "modding"). From what I understand, that was your point...

[1sty]

lol! Actually I wanted to say that indeed tuning is a lot more than just to slap a "dyno proven" bolt-on to a car (which I call "modding"). From what I understand, that was your point...
Ah I see. To me (using your definitions) they are one and the same for anyone doing it "right". You can't just add a mod without knowing how the current tuning will react.

[sickspeed94]

And who the hell is this guy??? DAMN!!!!! Thats a damn fast P5

you should have seen the look on the kid in the STI's face the next day in school when i laughed at him for getting beat by the econobox boostwagon!

STi--> (nuts) <-- Chris and the P5

[irr5302]

Reality Facts about Car modifications

Flashed+not down pipe+FPR+ not ECUmanagement(Unichip)+ not FMIC+porkhead driving+12psi= engine blown

[Spooled]

Something else happened here. If he was cruising at 70mph, there should have been no boost. In fact, he should have been at about -10 vac. It sounds to me like there was a major fuel delivery problem. Maybe the fuel pump took a dive...

[mp5jeff]

you don't have to be WOT for an engine to give away, its from abuse OVERTIME that kills it...

[Bhamsan]

Reality Facts about Car modifications

Flashed+not down pipe+FPR+ not ECUmanagement(Unichip)+ not FMIC+porkhead driving+12psi= engine blown
What the hell is this supposed to mean? I don't get what you're saying when you write "not down pipe". Does that mean no DP? I'm confused.

[Spooled]

you don't have to be WOT for an engine to give away, its from abuse OVERTIME that kills it...
I agree, but detonation shouldn't happen like that unless he's under boost. Period.

[mp5jeff]

i couldnt hear the vid, maybe it was a rod slapping around not detonation?

[Gbourdon]

Over time is the key word. I have 37K miles on my MSP now and about half of those were put on with higher boost levels around 10 or 11 PSI. My motor is stock except for colder plugs and the MBC. I dont hold boost for long periods of time and I pretend to know when enough is enough.

I was spiking 15psi for a week or so and it felt great but I was shitting my pants thinking that I would hang a rod through the side of the block. I heard what I thought was some detonation one time and i was in first gear which surprised me. Over time running 15PSI I know for a fact the motor would have popped. Its sure as shit.

Now I spike 10-11 psi and call it good. I cant afford to build a motor right now or be without a car.

[Spooled]

It was definitely detonation. Rice Krispies in your mouth = mmmm... good. Rice Krispies under the hood = ummmm... shit.

[TurfBurn]

Wow that is an insane amount of detonation! And that last hoorah of the gravel in a blender sounds brings back such fond memories of my engine popping :).

[yashooa]

yeah... it is pretty stunning how loud it was... I guess most people (not trying to insult you hello2000) lift before it gets that loud...

.After 48,000 miles on 93 octane and at 12PSI I have never, ever, heard anything like that. Damn, that sounded like a popcorn popper plus it sounded like the motor was struggling as if it were in a high gear and you started accelerating from a low speed.
Mine has a nice voosh!, gooble, voosh!, gooble sound to it.

[LinuxRacr]

Could it be that something started comming apart while he was cruising, and then as it went on, came completely apart and sent the rod thru the block? It sounds like detonation, but is there a possibility that something just came apart? The sound of the blick being buzzsawed....I know that sound all too well!

BTW...my current motor in my car is from a 2000+ Mazda 626. Don't get any year before that!

[spicynamja]

damn weak engine... I always joke with my friends when I drive up a hill
"I think my engine might blow up"

[Mx6GT91]

Who the hell boost in 5th gear!!!!!!!!!! Its for saving gas only (shocked)
Not to mention you were going up hill. Boosting up hill is more strain on the motor.

I think the main problem is that your ECU was flashed.

Cool vid, yea detonation in the vid was pretty loud. Sorry about your motor.

[Vassago]

Boostin in 5th is what makes turbo cars so much fun, no need to downshift to pass! I never downshift to 4th on the highway.

Scott

[Brian MP5T]

^^^No Need, but you should! It's much more fun!

[BOOSTR]

There has to be more to this blown engine story. A lot of MSP's have run higher than stock psi without problems or engine management. No doubt our rod bolts are not made to be abused.

Good luck in getting your MSP up and running again. Pick up a short block and upgrade the internals for better results. I'd seriously consider dumping the FCD on your new block. That protective feature is there for good reason on the MSP.

[LinuxRacr]

Boostin in 5th is what makes turbo cars so much fun, no need to downshift to pass! I never downshift to 4th on the highway.

Scott
I hit it in 5th all the time. Today I rediscovered downshifting to 4th. Fun stuff... 5th gear power ownz when passing. (evil)

[Spooled]

What's passing? I just "observe from a higher speed"

[sickspeed94]

isn't WOT with a lot fo weight in the car bad in 5th gear from low RPM's? seems to me as though cramming all that air into pistons moving slowly is not good.

[igdrasil]

isn't WOT with a lot fo weight in the car bad in 5th gear from low RPM's? seems to me as though cramming all that air into pistons moving slowly is not good.
exactly..too much load @ 10psi and low rpm in 5th gear. You need higher octane or retard the ignition!

[hello2000]

Does anyone know where I can find a used engine block and a crank?

[BOOSTR]

try a local junkyard that has late model cars or www.remanufactured-engines.com (http://www.remanufactured-engines.com) or a similar site. You only need a shortblock which will keep your cost down. Good luck.

[FSDET]

Does anyone know where I can find a used engine block and a crank?
why the stealership woundt fix it ?

[terbow]

use www.car-part.com i find everything there.

[BlkZoomZoom]

dawiv- If he lost a rod through the block, then chances are the piston said Hi to some valves.

[Wiggles422]

That's usually the case... my friend's talon had a piston that literally bonded with the spark plug. Pulling spark plugs out of pistons = not good.

[BOOSTR]

BlkZoomZoom: no doubt, you are the MSP man. I thought that he said he was going to upgrade to forged internals. Thats why I said only a shortblock.

[LinuxRacr]

I'm willing to bet that he may have a bent valve or two. I know I did!

[Brian MP5T]

Ouch!

[Kooldino]

just find a boneyard FS shortblock (a later one, so it has the casting updates and forged crank) and build it with forged stuff... WAY cheaper than what Mazda quoted you...
What do you mean by a "later" one? What years?

[LinuxRacr]

You want year 2000 and up. I would personally go for 2001 and up. I think that 1999 and below didn't have forged cranks.

[Wiggles422]

thats a good piece of information to have

[YP5 Toronto]

now I know what detonation sounds like... I could never find a good clip of what to listen for... but DAMN... (not flaming)...you were pounding on the gas even as the noise was readily apparent.