B6T Piston ideas

[noshatch]

I am about to rebuild the 323 but I don't want to go back to stock pistons. I have a set of turbo 323 pistons sitting on the shelf but after the first build, I can no longer trust these stock mazda pistons. Anyone have any ideas for me? I want to stay stock bore and I was thinking about non turbo Capri pistons or even Miata 1.6l pistons.

[Rocketman]

The nonturbo Capri and Miata pistons are the same. There's two different versions a 9.0:1 and a 9.4:1 depending on what transmission (auto had the lower compression)

What happened to your first build?

[noshatch]

Well rocketman, I believe that it might've detonated. The car lost compression in a cyl and at the time I didn't have a whole lot of money to fix it. So she sat for almost 2 years until this passed weekend where I brought her from my mom's house to my apartment. I did a compression check yesterday and I had 135psi on cyls 1-3 and 4 gave me almost 60psi. I took the head off yesterday to get this started so hopefully this weekend I will have the oil drained and the pistons out to see if I cracked a piston. The first time I blew up the motor, the wastegate hose came off and I was on 23 psi until it went. I cracked the ringlands on 2 pistons so I bought all new pistons from Mazda which are in the motor now. I am tired of the weak ringlands of these pistons but I don't want to get into having to bore out the block for a set of wiseco pistons. I know that the Capri and Miata are the same but I can't seem to find any new. All I find are used sets and they are going for $200+ on ebay.

[Rocketman]

They do make wiseco in standard bore, you may have to call and custom order them though.

There's plenty of used B6Ds & B6T's down in FL, maybe that's a more efficient or quicker option for you? The florida Festiva crew literally have piles of them.

I think I have a set of used 9.4:1 pistons if you are interested. But check to see if it's another cracked ring land? Could your timing have been off or something else causing this twice now?

[noshatch]

Timing wasn't off. I was low on money and put 87 octane in the car. I forgot about me putting regular in it since I would usually run 93 or higher octane. I got on it driving down the highway and it started smoking and it was only pushing 5psi of boost instead of the usual 14psi. I know the car and motor very well as far as rebuilding it and what parts would fit it. I was thinking that someone found a better alternative than going with wiesco pistons. I called wiesco and they said they will take their 78.5mm off the shelf pistons and put them in a 78mm size for $20 more. I'm not looking to put that much into this build right now. I just want to get the car back on the road so it's not sitting and breaking my heart as it's been for the last 2 years. PM me a price for the 9.4:1 pistons. I'm going to go to the local JY and see if there are any miatas

[noshatch]

I can't seem to find any info about the florida festiva crew. Do you have any info on them?

[nickz]

I am about to rebuild the 323 but I don't want to go back to stock pistons. I have a set of turbo 323 pistons sitting on the shelf but after the first build, I can no longer trust these stock mazda pistons. Anyone have any ideas for me? I want to stay stock bore and I was thinking about non turbo Capri pistons or even Miata 1.6l pistons.

noshatch maybe go easy on the boost,if you have a set of(new or used)pistons from a turbo motor use em. If you dedonate a miata/capri piston you will likely bust the ring land on it,but faster. I personally found replacing the head gasket the most costly part when i was over boosting my 1.6 cause of busted ring lands. got really,really good at swapping pistons. you can sorta trust stock cast pistons,eff the forged,