Racing Mazda vs. Mental Addiction

[Mental Addiction]

As for motors, it depends on what you are looking for.Our motors are a Nascar grade engine build.The block is FULLY machined and deburred.We have the crank Nitrated then micro polished to add strength.Next we machine in a 2nd thrust washer,use ARP main studs,ARP head studs, and Toga tri metal high performance bearings.We only use the best parts, believe in doing it all at once and not cut corners here and their to save money.Some people might say it's over kill.The few hundred dollars saved now might cost you everything if it blows.The piece of mind knowing that you can throw as much power as you want at our motor is worth the few hundred dollars. Good luck with your search and I hope you get what you are wanting.

 

[Matthew]

i had a racing mazda header which wqa supposed to be non rusting stainless steel. it rusted and when i sold it to senorcorwin, found out it was also not level and leaking.

 

[Ljspeed]

Ok this is not vendor bashing but personal dealing with Ric himself at RM since I live in San Antonio and know him. He is a great guy with tons of experience/knowledge. Did a great job on the first kit that was built by RM for my Probe which was back in '01. Back then there wasnt many kits available for a FS motor. But anyways, just hearing stories at the shop or people I know on another board. I would suggest any other place other than RM. He just takes a loooooong time to get stuff done. My prototype turbo kit was supposed to take 2wks.... HUH it took 2mos. And it was only done in 2mos because I bugged and checked up on it all the time. I read about another guy that got a block or head here and it took months. Also another person who dropped his MX6 LS here in town from NY. He wanted it all done... full engine build/TEC III/turbotkit. Last I heard its been there over 6mos and Im not too sure if its still there?? I know thats alot of work the MX6 guy is getting but at the max 2mos is all I would wait, especially if I brought it from over 1500 miles away. Also he is not well at answering all your questions on the phone or email at times. If you do choose RM, be VERY patient. Also his blocks arent done in shop, its done through a company other than RM. Any other questions please feel free to ask me if you dont get a straight answer form Ric or RM. But ill end it this way. Overall a great guy, but just needs better organization and a larger more experienced working staff. He especially needs an in house engine team to do builds.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Ask Ehawley how long he has been waiting on his MAM built shortblock. He's been waiting crazy long for it.

 

[Mental Addiction]

Ask Ehawley how long he has been waiting on his MAM built shortblock. He's been waiting crazy long for it.

Erik has been waiting alittle longer than we want him to.When a motor is order we tell them it's 8-12 weeks.Pistons take atleast 6 weeks and sometime loner.Then the machine shop takes 2-6 weeks.A day for me to assemble and a few days in shipment.Erik's is taking longer because he wanted to have his parts Tech- line coated and the first set of pistons that came in where machined wrong.Once we got the pistons I told Erik what showed up and that we got the wrong set and CP is doing a rush replacement.3 weeks later we got the right pistons.The Tech-line coating took almost 2 weeks..After I got the parts back the bearing clearance is to tight.So we spoke ealier this week and I told him what was going on.He understands and has no problem.We do not coat pistons or bearings and he was the first time we did it.We now have to have the bearings stripped to get the clearances I want.His motor has been done for sometime.We have been dealing with the pistons and coating issues.We will never coat parts again, even if the customer wants it and doesn't have a problem waiting.I speak with Erik a few times a month to keep him updated.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

All I can say is back in march when I pulled his motor he was expecting it that week. We were planning on having it together to be running at the Valley for opening night. Then we were planning on having it running for the Nepoc Dyno meet in June.

None of these are gonna happen. s*** happens though, your only as good as people your depending on.

 

[Mental Addiction]

When his first set of pistons showed up it was not a good feeling to see that they where machined wrong and that we are going to have to wait for another set.It felt awful to tell him we where not going to have it ready.His bearings are due back this week from Tech-Line.They stripped the coating off.Once I get them back then I can finish the assembly.

 

[65racecoupe]

Beau is building my block for the P5 Project.

Like he said, it is the parts that take a long time. It is not like Beau takes a long time himself.

Our engines are not Ford 302s or Chevy 350s that have been built for decades. The Mazda market is small, and it doesn't serve CP well monitarily to have a bunch of Mazda 2.0 pistons laying around.

You can have a set of 8.5 to 1 turbo pistons or some 14 - 1 NA high comp. pistons shipped tomorrow for your Ford Mustang. Too bad that is not the case for the Protege's.

 

[vindication]

beau, how many miles would you say your built engine is good for? Seeing as many of those parts are race parts. I heard the toga bearings were only good for like 20k miles(or maybe it was 40k, cant recall). I know it wont be every part like the pistons and stuff and rebuild the whole thing, but the bearings or anything else would need to be replaced more often?

 

[65racecoupe]

beau, how many miles would you say your built engine is good for? Seeing as many of those parts are race parts. I heard the toga bearings were only good for like 20k miles(or maybe it was 40k, cant recall). I know it wont be every part like the pistons and stuff and rebuild the whole thing, but the bearings or anything else would need to be replaced more often?

I can't see this engine NOT lasting for a long time. It should be treated like any engine and not revved up until it is at operating temp, etc.

 

[Mental Addiction]

beau, how many miles would you say your built engine is good for? Seeing as many of those parts are race parts. I heard the toga bearings were only good for like 20k miles(or maybe it was 40k, cant recall). I know it wont be every part like the pistons and stuff and rebuild the whole thing, but the bearings or anything else would need to be replaced more often?

The bearings are stronger and will last longer than stock.Stock bearings are an aluminum based bearing.They are more prone to nicks,chips,etc.
The Toga bearings are made by King Alecular.It's made from the same tri metal as Clevite, Federal Mogul,etc.The life of the motor depends on how it's treated and maintained.If you maintain it right and it's not making ALOT of power all the time(like a drag motor) then you should be able to get 100K + miles easily.

 

[wicked]

I've had kinda bad expieriences with clevite,and federal,they seem to were faster them most.
I've never gotten 100K out of them

but I have only used them on V8's

 

[M_3]

and what are the price differences

 

[65racecoupe]

and what are the price differences

A couple hundred bucks more for MAM built engine, if I am not mistaken.

 

[wicked]

I think it's like a $400 doller difference between the MPI and the MAM if I'm not mistaken.

not a lot,but it depends on your goals with the car.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

I think it's like a $400 doller difference between the MPI and the MAM if I'm not mistaken.

not a lot,but it depends on your goals with the car.

If you want a shortblock that will hold 700hp, Nick will build it to those specs. It all depends on what your looking for, in what he will do.

 

[M_3]

i will pay those 400 for the mam..

i mean you are getting better quality