To make a long story short, is it normal to be able to turn/twist the injectors by using the electrical connector after being properly torqued down?

 

Yes. They seal via an o-ring, and there is nothing that clocks them, so they can freely rotate slightly.

 

Thanks, I have been on the fuel injector merry-go-round for a year now.

1984 RX-7 GSL -SE. I bought a new one back in 1985 and thought it fun to buy another and restore it. Non-running but with possibilities. Compression checked out great, new plugs, new fuel pump, new, new, etc.. But, new injectors came with block seals smaller than originals. Ok, I put them in and started up running great, then after running it a few days off-road an engine fire. Put it out, then just to see, I started it right up and it still ran. Shut it down only to find burned wires to the TPS particuarly. I replaced all the wires and reused the original larger block seals which no longer are plyable and are quite hard, But I can't find new larger seals.

I torqued the fuel rail down to spec's and just to see, was surprised to find that the injectors rotated. I would like to find the larger factory seals. If anyone knows a sourse? I fear another engine fire.

Original injectors and seal are on the left, replacements on the right.

 

As stated above, it's normal to be able to twist the fuel injectors when mounted. You may have had some dirt or something in the rubber seals when you installed them which allowed a fine mist of gasoline to escape, which then started the engine fire. The TPS would not be a spark source to ignite the fuel, but the brushes from the alternator could certainly do so. My point is, the seals you have may be a different size but still fit and seal properly; and if you install the rail, pressurized the system (*using the fuel pump shunt at the Air Flow meter), and check for leaks, you should be fine. The rubber seals should not be loose in the center housing, though - as this may introduce air leaks into the system (aka vacuum leaks), and are hard to diagnose because theyre hidden by the intake manifold.

Any amount of fuel is a risk for fire. If you shut down your engine and smell in the engine bay, it's not unusual to smell fuel, but you shouldn't have any liquid fuel anywhere around the engine block, and it tends to evaporate quickly. Once you eliminate any leaks at the fuel rail, it's good.

 

Thanks, It's somewhat strange that a fire occured as I had been driving it around the driveway for a few days before it occured. But I may have become a little more aggressive just before the fire, reving it up a bit.

My son bought some rubber conditioner and soaked the original block seals in it over-night, It made them a lot more flexible so we put them back in. I just got through installing the radiator and air box leaving just the throttle cable and other connectors to hitch up, then we will try again. This time with a fire bottle standing by.

Original injectors were nasty, replaced with new ones.

 

Don't throw away your original injectors! They're very hard to find as quality replacements and can be rebuilt.

The Orange top injectors are 680cc maximum flow rate and Low Impedance. Everything after is either 550cc and 780cc and/or High Impedance and won't work on our cars. The rest of your engine bay looks pretty good. I'd replace that battery tray, though! Good luck,

 

I'd replace that battery tray, though! Good luck,

From your keyboard to my sandblaster.

Five rusty crown head bolts, the kind that really like to round off. But, with PBB they all loosened. Perhaps not my A game, but this isn't intended to be a nut and bolt restoration although I have done a couple of those. No frame and unibody scares me. And, I'm no longer 40, or 50, or 60, or even 70 so I'm backing off a bit.

Bob

 

Well I'll be darned. The thing runs.

8am I connected the battery hit the starter and it just took off on the first revolution. No waiting. A couple of trys yesterday must have filled the lines and the fuel rail. I only let it run seconds. My son not here to check for fuel smells and fire. I did not detect either.

 

Why wouldn't it? My 84SE has 252k miles on it and I drove it a few days ago to get pool chlorine... Enjoy!

 

Perhaps too short of a story. An engine fire about a year ago burned up the oil injection lines, wiring, TPS, etc. etc.. Everything repaired or replaced now. First start in over a year.

 

Perhaps too short of a story. An engine fire about a year ago burned up the wiring, TPS, oil injector tubing, etc. etc.

 

Continuing story, RX-7 starts fine and idles well but give it gas and it dies no matter if it's warm or cold. Running through the procedures but nothing seems to work. Any Ideas?