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lindsayw25 wrote:I have two questions. First what sort of milage could I expect to get out of a NA before the engine requires a major rebuild (i appreciate that circumstances differ depending on use and service history. Secondly what sort of price could I expect to pay for a full engine rebuild (approx only).

Pamex's NA6 has 394k kms on the odo & there are other NA6s over 300k kms & many over 200k kms. Many NA8s with over 200k kms & may be one or two with >300k kms.

Rebuild cost is of course dependent upon what needs replacing & consequent labour, but recall sweep77's rebuild cost $4-$5k a few years ago by a very good mechanic.

Btw, remember your red NA8 - are you after an NA6 or an NA8, or either? If you're after an NA8, but could live with an NB8A, then lower km examples are more common & only a bit more expensive than a lower km NA8.

You may also find it cheaper to upgrade to a low km NB engine than rebuilding the older engine.

Yup, I have 395 odd k on the clock now, and quickly approaching 400k (this weekend's adventure is Mt Gambier ).

As others have said, it might be more cost efficient to get a new engine. MX5 engines are comparatively cheap.

When it comes time for me to replace mine I'm planning to stick another good condition high mileage engine in and then re-build mine as time and garage space allows.

Doing the work yourself, you could throw 600 at the head sending that to the machine shop, then vrs kit bearings and rings, along with a hone would come to a few hundred more. Of course at a shop the labour would be close to 2K.

Dann