Engine rebuild or replace?

I wasn't sure if I should put this in Repairs or Engine.
anywho. here's my situation.
My car goes tick tick tick.
it's usually pretty quite but when my gas pedal is like, 1/4th of the way pressed, it gets super loud. I've narrowed it down to either a rod bearing or lifter. when I first heard it, I checked my oil, it was a bit low, but not too low, and I think aggressive corning with low oil probably was the cause of this. I topped off my oil and the ticking didn't really get any quieter. So I brought it to my local Mazda dealership where they listened to it and told me it sounded like valve train noise. So just to be safe I had them change my oil with 5W20 full synthetic. that didn't make a huge difference so I went back today and got 10W30 put in it with some additive (for free! Lee Johnson Mazda is great) to see if that'll quite her down.

So here's where I stand. I leave for Minnesota on Sunday (driving) and when/if I make it home, the motor will probably be coming out to fix it. I have never rebuilt a motor before and I'll have help, but I want to know, what all goes into rebuilding a motor, specifically the 2.3 that's in my car. Also if anyone knows what good OEM replacement internals are and where to get them.

On the other hand, I'm not opposed to doing a motor swap, my Dad mentioned a speed 3 motor but I'm pretty sure those are expensive, plus I'd have to get a new transmission because I'm pretty sure my 5 speed won't bolt up to that. does anyone have an ideas on what all goes into doing a swap like that?
I was also thinking T5. because volvo. but as far as the electronics go i'm not sure if that'll work.

I'm interested to hear your opinions and any information is much appreciated.

I'm kind of thinking I could rebuild my motor with better internals that could actually take the beating I give my car on a daily basis.

 

As I said yesterday, I have a bunch of 4G63 stuff, internals included. Of course, I'm joking unless you want to be serious.

T5, most likely possible, but the harnesses will make it far from easy, as the T5 harness will have more wiring for at MINIMUM an extra injector and coil, if not every sensor, meaning you've likely got different ECU pinnings which could turn something not overly difficult in concept into a multi-month nightmare project of hacked up harnesses, rearranged harness plugs, and hacked ECU code. Then again, so could a Speed 3 swap...

In all honesty, you've talked time and again about getting a toy, why not grab a junkyard motor and either save or use funds that would have gone into a swap to pick up something that's not going to be a giant headache to make fast.

Just my .02, considering I've been through ridiculous swap projects with others.

EDIT: Also to note, we can probably swap the motor (or just the bottom end) in a couple days. Something to think about.

 

this is what Karl found in terms of rebuilding my motor

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1433045,parttype,5316

which I wouldn't be opposed to, especially around 400 bucks.

 

Yeah, but how much is a motor from a yard? Can't be that much, they aren't uncommon.

If it's not too big of a difference, I'd say just grab the used motor and toss that in. Less work and no maths.

 

I will say again speed 3 swap with a front mount

 

The speed3 swap doesn't fit with out firewall mods. Talk to Jorgen about his build, Dissi in a Mazda sp23. Then comes the wiring he wound up pulling the whole loom tail lights to head lights to get it to work. Lots of work... Avo turbo and proper internals + ms3/other engine management might be a quicker/cheaper setup.

 

Yeah Jurgen has 5 digits of cash money to swap his car to a MS3 motor

There has got to be upgrade to turbo kits of that motor. Do it!

 

Getting the car home is still the first issue.

Really, he needs something that will hold up to his style of driving. So that counts out an Evo, lol.

 

could the manifiold have worped?

 

Mo, I tagged you in his video on FB so you can hear it. It's not an exhaust leak.

 

I didn't say it would be easy