Originally Posted by jcbrx8

To rebuild or not to rebuild: that is the question. . One which h/b discussed ad nauseam on the forum.

So, the money answer is NO.
- If you have to ask...,
- if you're finding it difficult to purchase one complete engine vs. evaluating in and out of spec components... and potentially purchasing multiple major components,
- etc;
...while courageous...self rebuilding may not be for you.

That's ok b/c ... you can easily purchase a rebuilt engine for about the same price as rebuilding it yourself w/out the hassle. Before undertaking a rebuild...you need to clearly assess... do I have:
- resources ($$$)
- space
- time
- all required tools (some specialty)
- ability to measure & modify multiple seals to tolerances as tight as 0.00XX"
- confidence to complete the disassembly & assembly
- the ability to stomach if it's FUBAR on completion... to possibly start again...

Really only you can provide an answer to your question. I rebuilt mine...self taught, and am currently at ~18k miles turbo'd, and going strong. I was able to answer yes to the above questions, did considerable research, and stuck to Mazda tolerances. Having done so...when time to rebuild, I will purchase a reman and go from there. (Edit: Purchased and installed a reman w/ some modification this year - 2021)

Rebuilding c/b a great learning experience, can save a good deal of $$... depending what needs replacing... , and can result in a solid engine. It also shouldn't be undertaken lightly..., is not for the faint of heart, finances, patience, or attention to detail, and c/b a nightmare.

So, the question to YOU is should YOU undertake rebuilding your engine?

All the best.