Not to offend anyone, up till now i have been the purest of rotary lovers, but pistons look pretty attractive right now. I bought an 83 a year ago, with 128,000 Km. At 136,000 3 months later, I lost an apex seal in the rear rotor. Bought a used engine with 90,000 Km, installed it myself, and it ran beautifully. I came to the conclusion that my really clogged cat, and rusted shut OMP was the killer. So i put a free flowing header and exhaust, and I always make sure the OMP is ok, and i also premix 8 ounces each fill up. 8 months later, AKA today, I loose another Apex seal in the rear rotor. what else is the cause of apex falure, I don't drive like a *****, never really cruise under 2500, new oil every 2500 Km, direct fire. I'm not sure what else i could have done to prevent this. Two engines within a year is something I really can't afford. I'm thinking maybe i can use the parts from both blown engines to make a working one. or just part all my stuff out, and try to recover some of my losses. Am i just really unlucky? what should i do, taking into account i'm a broke-*** student?

 

I would first say that rotaries are the ****. Secondly, thats some pretty bad luck if ive ever heard it. I think that what you really should have done with that engine you bought was to rebuild it. I think that you expected way too much out of a used engine. I say that you rebuild one or both of your engines, drop one of them in your car, then sell the other. But if you do end up parting out your car (bad idea) do you happen to have the racing beat headers and exhaust? Im really interested in buying if so...PM me.

 

vulture

 

How is that being a vulture? Im telling him to NOT part out his seven, but im in dire need of an exhaust, and he mentioned he put one in, so he has a buyer if the need arises. There's no need to be an *******.

 

There is a guy in the "parts for sale" section that is making custom exhausts for the 2nd gen-er's, but I bet he'd do it for us too...

 

Don't buy a used engine. Get a brand spankin' new engine so you won't have any problems.

After all, my SA has well over 210K miles on the original engine. Doubt you'll be blowing apex seals every year.

 

Rebuild it. The failure of the first apex seal was likely the clogged cat and bad OMP, the second seal was likely (in my opinion) a result of the first owner of the engine not breaking it in properly.

 

my engine got to 350,000 Km before it stopped working, even then it was only the oring in the intake manifold (filled the engine with coolant)

so yeah.. just looks like bad luck

 

Probably a shutter valve malfunction. Crappy FB manifold design.

 

How would this be a shutter valve problem? I've got mine bypassed and even when it's not working correctly, how would it make you lose an apex seal?

 

All my emmissions are off, and I just rebuilt the carb a month ago, taking the shutter valve plate off but leaving the rod

 

Maybe you guys can give me your thoughts, here are my options:
Buy a used engine with 150000 km for fairly cheap and drop it in myself.
Buy the same used engine and get it rebuilt possiably with a street port and drop er in.
get both of the two good rotors and housings from my broken engines to make a good engine, and get that rebuilt. as a side note the obvious and best solution seems to be buy a used engine and rebuild it, but its gonna cost me tonnes of money i don't have. Thanks

 

Buy the same used engine and get it rebuilt possiably with a street port and drop er in.

Why would anyone ever just drop in a used engine? Thats just a waste of time.

 

**** its a waste of time? I wish someone would told me that the 2 times before, haha

 

If they're both 12As, you can't put a front rotor in the rear.

 

Really? ahh crap, whats the difference in front and rear

 

oh one more thing, what are the costs associated with droping in a 13B, is it cost effective at all? I'm thinking that could be another option?

 

i dont think there is one. just rebuild using the two good ones.

 

Thats year dependent. Youd have to install it backwards (for the rotor gear to be on the correct side) which isint really an issue with early rotors that have symetrical dishes. Later ones are asymetrical and so are marked fron and rear and arent interchangeable.

 

Oh ok, awesome, well I just went to my garage to make sure which rotor was blown and it turns the the front rotor is actually blown, so i have a good front and a good rear, which i suppose is pretty benificial. Is it possiable to reuse the apex seals from two different engines as long as they stay on their orrigional rotors and housings, or is it just asking from trouble

 

hey Matty ~

what kind of fuel support do have for the carbie? also, what timing do you run?

for the simple fact that you're a student, i'd recommend getting another 12A. a 13B swap is not awfully more expensive, but you will incur more costs (the intake will be an issue) than putting another 12A in the car. that stuff is not conducive to school ... i've been there.

anyway, don't give up on it if you love the car. used engines are a gamble, but it's the luck of the draw. however, just as easily as you can crap out, you can score big, too.

what i would do:
get a rear rotor - (actually there may be a guy selling one on this board, but i'll have to go find his username for you) - and build up a decent motor.

take it easy with the right foot until you can figure out what's going on and fix it.

 

okay ... nix the rotor-thing ...
you posted while i was writing, so i didn't see that you have a set. just check them to make sure that they are within the right weights of each other.

 

yea they are both from an 83 so i assume they both have the same specs

 

no ... not necessarily. when you clean them up, look for a letter between A and E on the gear side of the rotor. you can use two rotors together as long as they are within 1 letter of each other. otherwise, the rotating assembly goes out of balance - though i'm not sure by how much.