NB8A Engine - Replace with good used or rebuild

Engines, Transmissions & Final Drive questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, -alex, miata, StanTheMan, greenMachine, ManiacLachy, Daffy, zombie, Andrew, The American, Lokiel

User avatar
CrazyRacer
Fast Driver
Posts: 274
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 5:15 pm
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Gold Coast

NB8A Engine - Replace with good used or rebuild

Postby CrazyRacer » Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:02 pm

I bought a cheap NB8A for my daughter. Has 330,000km on it but seemed to run nicely.

She's been learning in it for 6 months, but in the last few weeks its started choofing smoke out the exhaust and using more oil than fuel. Still runs OK though.

Looking for thoughts on rebuilding vs dropping a used replacement motor in. My main concern is that these motors are now a minimum of 16 years old and find a good used could be difficult.

Also any advice on who to go to in Melbourne for either a used motor or to do a rebuild.

User avatar
smy0003
Racing Driver
Posts: 1870
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:35 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Melbourne

Re: NB8A Engine - Replace with good used or rebuild

Postby smy0003 » Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:41 pm

Have you you checked the pcv valve and other common causes of blowing smoke?
Could be a $10 fix if yoire lucky.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk
[b]Then: Sunlight Silver NB8B
Now: Chaste White NA8

manga_blue
Forum Guru
Posts: 4897
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:27 pm
Vehicle: NA8
Location: Moruya, NSW

Re: NB8A Engine - Replace with good used or rebuild

Postby manga_blue » Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:06 pm

Exactly what I was thinking. $10 part from Repco. One minute job. The Repco counter staff would probably do it in the carpark for you. It's gotta be worth a try seeing that you'd be advised to replace it when you swap in a new engine anyway.
’95 NA8

User avatar
Vat
Racing Driver
Posts: 891
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:14 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: SW Brisbane

Re: NB8A Engine - Replace with good used or rebuild

Postby Vat » Sun Apr 24, 2016 7:35 pm

If it turns out to be the motor, you'd be better going with a good used one. I broke my original motor at Lakeside in late 2014, sent the car to Automotive Plus and got them to put a mid 100k vintage used motor in it (with all the seals, gaskets, belts and thermostat all new). Plus a lightened flywheel...and heavy duty clutch. As you do. I nicked off to Hawaii for two weeks and came back, paid, got in the little fella and drove home. He's run like a train since.
'98 Evo Gold NB8A
QR-Clubman 66.5109|Sprint 63.3635|Sportsman 67.4673|National 92.3481|Lakeside 65.7478|MP K 1:35.382|MP E 1:16.422|NM 1:08.017


Return to “MX5 Engines, Transmission & Final Drive”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests