Busted head, what's best route to go?

[GoProtege]

My baby's on her last leg. What's the best way to bring her back to life?
I've been having bad misfire problems, stalling and rough idle, major power loss,etc...
Compression tests showed that Cyl 3 significantly lower(about 60%). I'm pretty sure the block itself is ok, and I don't think the pistons are in bad shape, so the question is
Buy a refurbished head and have it installed for alot of $$$
Buy a replacement fs engine from protegarage for
$1100 + alot for shipping + alot for install
Buy a forged engine from protegegarage for $3600 + a sh*t load for shipping and install.

I dont want to spend the money for a refurbished head, only to have it bust again in a year or 2, then have to do it again(the turbo is a little rouch on the engine) The eventual plan was to go forged pistons and rods, but that was a long way down the road.

So, to go forged or not is the ?
What do ya think?

 

[mspHtown]

i got a full long block from the junkyard for 500 dollars. they claimed that it was taken from a running protege. after taking it apart, it is in pretty good shape.

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Dude shipping an engine isn't bad. Mine came from New Jersey, shipped internationally and it only cost like $350. Install it yourself.

 

[GoProtege]

Dude shipping an engine isn't bad. Mine came from New Jersey, shipped internationally and it only cost like $350. Install it yourself.

Yeah, apparently it's not too bad. I can't install it myself cuz I got nowhere to do it(my 35 degree angle drive way wont cut it), dont have the proper tools to do it, and I don't quite have the skills yet.

I'm hoping to get this done under 5 grand. Do you think that's a reasonable goal?

 

[GoProtege]

Hmm. Now I'm thinking that instead of a going forged I will get a remanufactured head installed and use the left over money to get my custom IC pipes made up and get some sort of EMS(or at least a MSP ecu)

What do ya think?

 

[iracemine]

Im a little confused how do you know its a head? not a head gasket? burnt ring? did you do the teaspoon of oil trick when doing the compresion test?? a complete head job from flying miata is about 800. and a new gasket would be a hundred more. need more info here.

 

[GoProtege]

I took it to a frend's dad to do the compression test. He's a licensed mechanic and he is the head mechanic for Ford in the area
The compression on Cycl 3 was 120 cyl4 was 195.


He said that it sounds like a busted valve but he thinks the block is ok. Really wont know til we tear it apart.

 

[iracemine]

so if hes the god he is then stick the scope camera he must then have in there and have yourself a looky(usa)

 

[iracemine]

this sounded like a bent valve.

 

[GoProtege]

so if hes the god he is then stick the scope camera he must then have in there and have yourself a looky(usa)

There's a problem with that, he quit and went into IT work, leaving his fancy tools behind.

 

[AODfan]

this sounded like a bent valve.

Resembles a burnt marshmallow

 

[GoProtege]

Is there someway to rent a scope or something from Autozone so that I can look in through the spark plug holes. Basically, is there a way to tell what kind of shape the pistons are in without removing the head?

 

[iracemine]

There's a problem with that, he quit and went into IT work, leaving his fancy tools behind.

DOH! let us know what happens. pics of course. but I would find out what you need first because there is soo many ways to go about this. It all depends on where your gona go with this,what broke, and how much money you have right now. because if you had the money you would set the block n head up for the most power even if you dont go down that road (insurance for if you change your mind in the future)