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Help!!! - I am new and neeed to rebuild my engine!

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Old Jan 28, 2011 | 05:59 PM
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Help!!! - I am new and neeed to rebuild my engine!

Even though I am new on this community I have plenty experience with FB's but always willing to learn more from others. I will be rebuilding my first 12a in the next couple of weeks. It shouldn't be a hard task for me because I am a mechanic but rotary is a totally different world than piston and if its not done right you could mess something up, so for you guys that have done this before please help me on this one. i.e. where to purchase the kit and what to and what not to do.My vision for this vehicle that I will be building is street ported, I have not decided either using a weber or a holley just yet I have no idea on which one is better, MSD ignition coil and dist, ofcourse headers, RB fuel pump and a wide down pipe with maybe a magnaflow exhaust. if there is something you guys think i should modify of any comments I would really appreciste it. I have not purchased anything just yet so let me know. I do have some cosmetic things in mind as well that I will be out in the look for like glass sunroof and targa bands and other small stuff like that but I will be posting that later. I do appreciate all of your help on this one and please dont waste your time writing dumb comments I know I dont know it all but like I said I am more than willing to learn. Thank you!!!
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Old Jan 28, 2011 | 06:21 PM
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i suggest u get one of the rebuild vids from mazdatrix or racingbeat. it would be a good investment. either one of those sell kits too.
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Old Jan 28, 2011 | 06:53 PM
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Atkins Rotary www.atkinsrotary.com also has a good video and rebuild kits.

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Old Jan 28, 2011 | 07:35 PM
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well, if your going to rebuild with Street port, are you going to boost later or stay n/a? if your going N/A then i suggest the carbon racing seals from racing beat, if not then get the stock ones, depends on what you want to do with the car, if your daily driving then get stock seals, that is my suggestion and yea get the rebuild kit and read the fsm carefully before you start.
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 10:26 AM
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bump

Last edited by busa1120; Jan 29, 2011 at 10:31 AM. Reason: mistake
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by kutukutu1
well, if your going to rebuild with Street port, are you going to boost later or stay n/a? if your going N/A then i suggest the carbon racing seals from racing beat, if not then get the stock ones, depends on what you want to do with the car, if your daily driving then get stock seals, that is my suggestion and yea get the rebuild kit and read the fsm carefully before you start.
is it possible to put a turbo on a carb engine? if so which set up of carb would I need? I heard that they run shitty if I was to run a holley or a webber set up which one would you recommend on each set up
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by rxtasy3
i suggest u get one of the rebuild vids from mazdatrix or racingbeat. it would be a good investment. either one of those sell kits too.
i got one of the rebuild videos from mazdatrix but it alny talks about 13b is that the same as 12a as far as rebuilding is concerned? I heard its the same set up except the 12a uses a different corner seal or am I way off?
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 10:35 AM
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Life sucks, but owning an rx7 makes it all worth it!!!!

I can not agree with you more!!!!!!!
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by busa1120
i got one of the rebuild videos from mazdatrix but it alny talks about 13b is that the same as 12a as far as rebuilding is concerned? I heard its the same set up except the 12a uses a different corner seal or am I way off?
12a and 13B just about the same from the assembly standpoint. I believe that the only difference in corner seals are that the 12a seals are made for 3 mm apex seals and the 13B are made for 2mm. Stock 13B seals are 3 piece with double springs and 12a are 2 piece with single springs. Otherwise the same.

RXDad
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 05:56 PM
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Get a Haynes manual... The motor rebuild process is in there very detailed step by step. You can't go wrong that way.
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 07:25 PM
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The Factory Service Manual is better in my opinion. I did some research before I started the build that I'm stuck on now, and I have found that the best info is in the FSM. Haynes/Chilton is too "general" or "shade tree mechanic" for me. (Even though I'm a shade tree mechanic.)

Now when it comes to the rebuild kit: back when I bought mine I found that the best ones came from either Racing Beat or Pineapple Racing. They both use genuine Mazda parts; with the exception of Pineapple Racing's "Heavy Duty Water Seals".

I did some research on the Atkins rebuild kit. I wanted to know why it was so much cheaper than all the rest. I ended up finding some threads on here that talked about bad luck with Atkins rebuild kits. They were getting somewhere along the lines of 30,000 to 40,000 miles out of the engine before they popped an apex seal.

I have also personally dismantled an S4 engine that contained an Atkins style thermal pellet and 2 piece 2mm apex seals just like the ones Atkins manufactures and sells. This engine had horrible chatter marks, and I can provide pictures if necessary.

As for rotor housings, to save some money I decided to go with JHB Performance. BAD IDEA. (I can provide pictures of the parts I received from them.) I ended up returning them, and purchasing brand new Mazda rotor housings.

I've heard Mazda quit production on 12A parts, but that doesn't mean you can't find some nice used ones somewhere else on the internet.

In my experience, Mazda is the company that spent the most time developing these engines. They know how to make and design the parts properly. They have also worked with Racing Beat on a number of different race cars.

That's my 2 cents on rebuild kits, rotor housings, and service manuals.

I'm not trying to turn you off to either Atkins or JHB, just letting the "buyer beware", and notifying you of my experiences. Some people (like me) don't have a very deep wallet. I tried getting the best bang for my buck, and it bit me in the ***. Long story short, you get what you pay for.


...Oh and welcome to the club.

Last edited by DaBrkddy; Jan 29, 2011 at 07:31 PM. Reason: Forgot to welcome the exhaust leak! Where are my manners...
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Old Jan 29, 2011 | 11:04 PM
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The last rebuild I did went fine and I used the Haynes manual for 1st gen. I have factory manuals for both series 2nd gens so i know what I'm comparing to. I admit the haynes manual is vauge in other areas but the motor rebuild part takes you threw step by step in detail.
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Old Jan 30, 2011 | 08:12 AM
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Thank you for your information regarding your experience with different sellers and I will take in consideration both parties I will use the video as well as the manual because I can download it froo from the military website. Now as far as the intake gors I am about to purchase a 12A Weber 48 IDF Intake Setup is that a good purchase/ set up for my rebuild engine? I will be sending the housing somewhere to get street ported I m thinking racing beat for now. although maxdatrix have the service as well I would try to do them my self but Im affraid to f*%& son=mething up. I rather pay someone who knows what is doing and has done it before. also some guy is trying to sell me an MSD ignition dox 6a is that the one I need? I know I would need two of them but I dont want to start buying the wrong thing I have researched some FB owners and that is the one I see on their engine set up.
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Old Jan 30, 2011 | 08:28 AM
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I found these seals I heard about carbon seals that wont last long ans the stee apex seals but I 've not heard anything about NRS 3mm, 2 piece ceramic apex seal set are these good?
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Old Jan 30, 2011 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by busa1120
Even though I am new on this community I have plenty experience with FB's but always willing to learn more from others. I will be rebuilding my first 12a in the next couple of weeks. It shouldn't be a hard task for me because I am a mechanic but rotary is a totally different world than piston and if its not done right you could mess something up, so for you guys that have done this before please help me on this one. i.e. where to purchase the kit and what to and what not to do.My vision for this vehicle that I will be building is street ported, I have not decided either using a weber or a holley just yet I have no idea on which one is better, MSD ignition coil and dist, ofcourse headers, RB fuel pump and a wide down pipe with maybe a magnaflow exhaust. if there is something you guys think i should modify of any comments I would really appreciste it. I have not purchased anything just yet so let me know. I do have some cosmetic things in mind as well that I will be out in the look for like glass sunroof and targa bands and other small stuff like that but I will be posting that later. I do appreciate all of your help on this one and please dont waste your time writing dumb comments I know I dont know it all but like I said I am more than willing to learn. Thank you!!!
Welcome to the club. Your a mechanic and asking us for advice?
Get a haynes manual, Atkins rebuild DVD and do your homework. I'd suggest doing your own porting(cheaper IMO) goodluck
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Old Jan 30, 2011 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Jibaro 12A
Welcome to the club. Your a mechanic and asking us for advice?
Get a haynes manual, Atkins rebuild DVD and do your homework. I'd suggest doing your own porting(cheaper IMO) goodluck
no me quiero meter a mono va y jodo algo porteandolo mejor que lo corte otro que lo ha hecho antes, lol
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Old Jan 30, 2011 | 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted by busa1120
no me quiero meter a mono va y jodo algo porteandolo mejor que lo corte otro que lo ha hecho antes, lol
Porteando los platos nos es tan dificil mi pana. Compre unos platos que estaban danados y practique asi no dane los mios. Qualquier pregunta que tengas dejame saber. Mi hernano y yo llevamos muchos anos montado rotores. Te deseo mucha suerte mi hermano.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Jibaro 12A
Porteando los platos nos es tan dificil mi pana. Compre unos platos que estaban danados y practique asi no dane los mios. Qualquier pregunta que tengas dejame saber. Mi hernano y yo llevamos muchos anos montado rotores. Te deseo mucha suerte mi hermano.
muchas gracias te mantendre al tanto de mi projecto. ya le quite todo pero no tengo la copa grande de 2 1/8 para poder tener acceso a los studs pero la consigo hoy en el trabajo.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 08:58 AM
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If you guys want to post in Spanish, please post it in the Latin American Forum Section of the RX7club.com. Otherwise, keep it to P.M.'s

¿Comprende?
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by busa1120
I found these seals I heard about carbon seals that wont last long ans the stee apex seals but I 've not heard anything about NRS 3mm, 2 piece ceramic apex seal set are these good?
2 piece ceramic apex seals are one of the best options for an NA setup, but usually the most expensive. I'm currently using 2mm 2 piece apex seals in my race car. I think I would use good steel apex seals for a street rotary setup.

The 12A used 3mm apex seals (as mentioned earlier in this thread), 3mm are stronger (great for boost applications), but 2mm are suppose to seal better (good NA setup). Just stick with the original setup, 3mm steel apex seals.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Directfreak
If you guys want to post in Spanish, please post it in the Latin American Forum Section of the RX7club.com. Otherwise, keep it to P.M.'s

¿Comprende?
Haha nice, I understand what they are saying, but speaking in Spanish makes it so that others cannot help out so I would recommend following directfreak's statement.

You said you were going witha magnaflow exhaust? Go with RB Power Pulse Muffler, its the best IMO
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Directfreak
If you guys want to post in Spanish, please post it in the Latin American Forum Section of the RX7club.com. Otherwise, keep it to P.M.'s

¿Comprende?
Damn, you entered my forum and the only thing that you mention is about the written language on it thanks for the info I had no idea that there was a spanish section. Any comments about the subject that we are actually discussing?
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by busa1120
Damn, you entered my forum and the only thing that you mention is about the written language on it thanks for the info I had no idea that there was a spanish section. Any comments about the subject that we are actually discussing?
Be careful. You don't want to get on the wrong side with the people that have the most knowledge.
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by KansasCityREPU
Be careful. You don't want to get on the wrong side with the people that have the most knowledge.
That was not my intent if someone took it the wrong way well it was not ment that way besides all I said was that I had no knowledge about the Spanish forum and asked I he had any input about the assistance I ask for but just like you logged in to speak your mind instead of staying on the subject in hand thanks!
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Old Jan 31, 2011 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Directfreak
If you guys want to post in Spanish, please post it in the Latin American Forum Section of the RX7club.com. Otherwise, keep it to P.M.'s

¿Comprende?
Si senor
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