So I'm pretty sure I've popped my HG cherry finally - I smell and see exhaust fumes coming out of my radiator fill neck and I am constantly boiling over coolant.
I'm going to do the head bolts, timing belt and water pump at the same time I do the HG. I will be buying the ITM gasket kit (because it's inexpensive and I've heard good things so far) - bear in mind my MSP is not for performance applications, just a fun DD.
I wanted to see if I could get some advice from the Mazda Gods on this forum.
1) Should I go with ARP head studs, or can I stick with another lesser brand/stock (this is not a high performance vehicle)
2) Is there anything else I should be replacing while I have the head off?
3) Can I do this job with a 6 pack of beer in me?
4) I've seen somewhere on this forum about someone leaving the intake manifold in the engine bay - is this a feasible option with our cars?
5) What is the approximate cost to have the head checked out and milled down?
Any other useful bits of info would be greatly appreciated. I can't really afford to pay a guy to do this for me, nor am I made of money to buy the most expensive sh*t in the world - it's only a car after all. I have good mechanical experience and knowledge (I've owned and restored a few classic Z cars before and even replaced my transmission in a apartment parking lot on my MSP - by myself).
I'm going to do the head bolts, timing belt and water pump at the same time I do the HG. I will be buying the ITM gasket kit (because it's inexpensive and I've heard good things so far) - bear in mind my MSP is not for performance applications, just a fun DD.
I wanted to see if I could get some advice from the Mazda Gods on this forum.
1) Should I go with ARP head studs, or can I stick with another lesser brand/stock (this is not a high performance vehicle)
2) Is there anything else I should be replacing while I have the head off?
3) Can I do this job with a 6 pack of beer in me?
4) I've seen somewhere on this forum about someone leaving the intake manifold in the engine bay - is this a feasible option with our cars?
5) What is the approximate cost to have the head checked out and milled down?
Any other useful bits of info would be greatly appreciated. I can't really afford to pay a guy to do this for me, nor am I made of money to buy the most expensive sh*t in the world - it's only a car after all. I have good mechanical experience and knowledge (I've owned and restored a few classic Z cars before and even replaced my transmission in a apartment parking lot on my MSP - by myself).