Anybody rebuilt and streetported a 12A at home?
 

I was going over the manual on how to rebuild a rotary and it doesn't look too difficult. I was thinking about buying the lowest mileage 12A block I can find from a wreckers and rebuild it myself. I saw in my mazdatrix catalogue that a rotor seal/apex kit is $708!!!!! which is way out of my budget. Would it be worthwhile to just do the engine gasket kit and have it bigstreetported, or will I just be making a pointless 6month motor?
I would appreciate any advice or ideas you may have.
Thanks

There's a guy near me who buys rusted out or wrecked RX-7s and strips them down for parts.

I got a 12A and trans from him for $200. It had the infamous dowel O-ring oil leaks so I pulled it apart... seals were mint, housings were mint. Got bored with just looking at it so I ported it, I thought it was big at the time but I know now that it's pretty mild. Anyway slapped it together after a THOROUGH cleaning of everything and mic'ing of everything... and yes I did make sure that all of the seals went back in the same places they came out of. Anyway, I put this engine in the car in March, it makes 125psi compression cold, and it's still running strong.

If I were to do it again I'd spend the $70 or so and buy the porting templates from M'trix.

well in my opp. your STUPID to not get new seals and stuff. you can prob. get within spec seals from a lower mile motor but its worth it to get the new stuff. I paid aver 1k in parts to get mt street ported motor back up. i did pay 10% to overnight it but i was in a time bind. just save up you $$ and get all new seals.
David
No offence

Speaking of porting templates does any one know if they are on the internet anywhere? I can't imagine they could be hard to make. from pic I have seen they are just sheet metel you put over the ports as an out line. (Right?)

Also is there a good website that goes into porting. The dos and don'ts of a good port job?

Jim

Proper porting is not as easy as tracing a template. If all you're trying to do is enlarge your ports and get a few extra HP over stock, it'll work fine, but to really make good HP, takes tons of experience.

My engine builder said he's ported over 200 engines to get his porting as refined as it is now. That's a lot of dyno and flow bench work.

If you're really looking for good HP, it's worth it to pay a pro. (just my $.02)