challer2000

Ok my dad gave me a 1980 LS a few months ago. He had it since 97; he started having backfiring problems really bad sounded like a shot gun. He went to Rally Imports Automotive in midland MI. He dropped 4800 on an engine shocks and brakes. I have to call tomorrow to see exactly what they did. My dad can’t find the paper any but clams that it’s a new engine that was shipped from Japan. If this is true the 7 only has around 3k on the engine an 68k on the body. What do you guys think what really went down? I’ll hopefully find out tomorrow. But just curious on what you think?

85 FB

Hmm, for around $5K I can have my engine rebuilt with a mild port, a few nice parts, and that's it. But, it also depends on the shop and their fees, too, so use my example only so far. To have a new engine shipped from Japan......from Japan? That's a bit much when you can get nice rotary engines anywhere here in the states. I myself don't want to believe it was shipped from Japan, not for that price. Because a lot of rebuilt motors, just the cost of them come close to $5K, depending on what was done to them and that's not counting shipping and handling. And with having the shocks/struts and brakes done up, I'd say either a motor rebuild, or a new motor from a local (maybe out of state) engine shop as well.

Call the shop, see what they have to say.

challer2000

That’s what I think it does not add up. Hopefully I can get a list on what they did to the car on Wed.

PT Ray

This reminded me of a discussion several years ago I had with a good friend of the family regarding a Datsun Z. He was telling me the extent of some work he had done to his daughters Z (I think this had to been in the late 80's), which included a motor "from Japan". Now after thinking about it makes me think he may have been mistaken.

BLKTOPTRVL

I had really bad 'shotgun' blasts from my exhaust on my first gen... It was a bad ignition switch.

boostedHULK

iTrader: (1)

sounds like a used japan engine, still relatively low miles, less than 50k usually. And then the shop could have easily rebuilt the engine and installed it for less than 5000 dollars. On the otherhand, it's also very easy to buy a 900 dollar jdm engine, not rebuild it, throw it in the car, get it running decent, and lie your *** off to make up the other 3000 dollars.

kleinke

Ray Crowe (Malloy Mazda) bought all the new Engines some time ago. Ray was selling the new Engines for $3300-$4000. Everything coming from Mazda is now a Reman. It might have been a Reman with mostly new Parts.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

Get them to be as accurate and descriptive as possible.

Springs and shocks , with installation, come to less than $1000

Leaving $3800 for whatever the engine is.

Now I can *easily* spend $3800 on rebuilding an engine, but that's because I'm crazy and I'd go full-out with hardened stationary gears, re-nitriding the side housings, balancing the rotating assembly, porting, etc.....

But if you want to be reasonable, figure that they paid under 1k for a "JDM Import" motor, spent 1k rebuilding it and $800 for labour.

Those numbers would make sense considering that your basic rebuild kit from Atkins or Mazdatrix costs almost 1k retail. If they have vendor arrangements they might get it for a bit cheaper, but not a huge amount.

Either way, for that kind of money, get some sort of guarantee (WRITTEN) that you can bring the engine back if it blows within the next however many miles.

Jon

challer2000

Just got off the phone with them, the engine came from Japan it was a reman. Do places usually offer any warranties with reman engines? According to the shop the motor had 0 miles when it was installed which was four years ago. So I did the math the engine has 4200 miles on it. Would it still even have a warranty being this old?

I did not talk to them for very long they were kind of rude. So I didn’t ask too many questions. I’m hopeing to find out more when my dad finds the bill.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

So they're charging you 4g for an engine of unknown condition that was rebuilt then run in a car for four years, and some suspension work? I'd get more info BEFORE you pay a single penny.

Get your dad down there, find out exactly how the cost breaks down. Reman JDM or not, if the engine was a used core that was rebuilt, then used some more, that isn't worth much to me. You don't know if the engine has been overheated since it was put in that car, or how much the person took it *way* over redline, or if the person used too much NOS (if any), or if he did a single oil change in that time... It's truly an unknown. For all you know, he could have been running without a working Oil Metering Pump for the last 4 years and that engine could be no better off than a junk engine.

If it wasn't rebuilt now, you don't want it or you want it for damn cheap with a warranty.

Jon

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

I think he is saying that his dad bought this engine/suspension 4 years ago. I guess he is wondering if a new engine + suspension/brakes for $4800 sounded correct.

From what I have heard, the Mazda remain engines are not so great. Pretty much the minimum to get them going again for minimum costs. Anyway, I am sure the warranty is expired, although some shops like Pineapple Racing do have engines with 5 yr warranties (they use new housings and mostly all new parts). I believe their engines cost around $2800 or so (just engine, no labor or anything).

I don't think we can help much. Just offer speculation. You will have to talk to the shop and see what all was done. The problem is that the one shop just installed the engine, so they probably do not know exactly what was replaced internally. This is why I believe in doing it yourself or having someone you trust with the knowledge/experience rebuilding rotaries to do it. That is the only way you really know what you have. The other option is to go to a well respected rotary shop. It can be difficult, though, as even the best shops will have at least one customer complain for something. It makes it harder to determine which shops to stand by and which to avoid. Like they say, you always hear the negatives of something over the positives.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

As Addict said, we can all speculate, but what's the point. The work was done long past most any warranty, the money has been spent. While the total cost may seem high, for a top shop it may not be that high. No details were provided on the brake and suspension work or how extensive it was.

If the car is running and driveing well, enjoy it. The rest is moot at this point in time.