IMO it's nice to replace the head bolts if you can, we were doing the head gasket on my brother's car and had the whole dang thing back together and torqueing the head bolts down, and on the very last torque step of the very last head bolt, PING! Bolt broke off below the level of the head gasket and at an angle, took us an hour to drill into the hard steel bolt and get it out with an Easy Out. Not to mention the time it took to re-do the whole job again with new bolts...

Not much fun! Made me want to get new head bolts every time.

FYI, that job was cursed anyway... On the second time, with the new head bolts, I let my brother put the head gasket on the block while I was doing another part, and I didn't check his work, then after we put the whole thing back together and were adding water to the radiator, we hear this trickle of water running out of the block...

Turns out my bro had put the head gasket on upside down (yep it fit that way) and the water passages didn't line up so water was pouring out. Had to take it apart and do it AGAIN. We pretty much ended up changing the head gasket a total of 3 times in one night because of stupidity (not replacing worn head bolts and putting gasket on wrong). That was a long night!

I will never let him live that one down, putting the head gasket on upside down when the top of the gasket says "TOP" in half-inch letters <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was talking ignition coils there. Most Head bolts are torque to yeild, which meens one time use. The machine shop told me that the rod and main bolts on the FE3 are fine to reuse. He was amazed on how beefy the internals are on the Mazda F2s and FE3s are.

Dennis

Got my new coils from Rock Auto yesterday and also got my refund for the pair I ordered on ebay that never came. I still need to find time to put this thing back together, I'm just greatfull my boy was able to put together such a reliable Probe for me. I have put about 15,000 miles on it since I killed the Kia and the only thing I have had to do is a brake master cylinder (knock on wood). I need to get it done soon, I NEED to go wheelin.

Dennis

I just typed up a itemized list of how much I spent and what cost what but when I went to send it the site timed out and erased it all. So I will just say for now that with machining, parts and accessers I am at $1212.00 with at least $200.00 left to go. Still cheap compaired to having a shop rebuild it or a new or used engine bacause most of that I still would have had to get. I started putting it together today with lots of pics, I will post them when it's done. I won't have time tommorrow to work on it but maybe Sunday.

Dennis

went mudding at L-cross ranches two weekends ago, had mud up to the door handles and up over the hood. thank got i fabbed a snorkel. but none the less i have rod knock now (no water in oil) and gotta figure out wether or not to rebuild or do an engine swap.....

I got all of next week off to try to finish the Kia. The short block is done, just need to put on the head and everything on the outside of the block. I remembered the other day the starter was giving me fits last winter. I think it was a lifetime warantee. I will post all the pics of the assembly when I finish.

Dennis

Dennis did you happen to look the mazda B2200 possibility (crank and rods I mean)??

I was thinking about the Probe crank but after my boy spun a bearning the 2nd time in his stroker I decided to stay stock. The machine shop found the fix but I was already committed. I do plan on a turbo later down the road.

Dennis

So I'm off this week to work on the Kia. So far I have my mother-in-laws swamp cooler winterized and post holes dug and the fence posts planted in my back yard. I finaly got to the Kia, went to put the head on and Kia ordered me the wrong head bolts. I don't know why I didn't check that out when I got them but I'm dead in the water now. Tomorrow I will start on the tie rod and tie rod ends, sway bar links, front brakes and maybe start on the rear bumper if I have time.

Dennis

Here are a few lists of mazda guys building FE3's
http://www.mx6.com/forums/fe-dohc/184255-fe3-build-lists.html