Got hold of a guy with a new 12a. Yes, a NEW 12a. Never been used or ran, built in 86. Guy has no paperwork on it since it has been in his garage for years on end. Guy told me it was in a mazda crate.

Well, I get to the dealership (the parts guy I am good friends with, and this guy was a buddy of his, met him through SCCA). There was some oil coming out the oil pan. Not like a huge amount, but looks like a drip or 3. Well, it came with a exhaust manifold, water pump, and AC Compressor on it, with the WP and AC looking new. Now, when I took the manifold off, there was a new exhaust gasket as well. Looked in the rotors, and I cannot see any carbon at all. Thing is, I see like the number 6 on one rotor, and nothing on the other. I am beginning to think this thing is a rebuild. I then get some q-tips and swab the inside of the pan since I do not want to take it off. Comes out mostly clean with a slight brown residue. Also when looking into the front rotor housing, it has what looks like engine oil that the rotor scoops up, whereas the rear rotor does not.

So with this, I ask you. Is this a NEW engine, or a rebuild? I am beginning to think it is a rebuild, since I do not think the factory would write on the rotors.

EDIT: When I got to the dealer, the engine was not in a crate.

CLIFFS:
Told about a "New" 12a, still in factory crate, no miles, never spun over.
Got to dealership to pick up engine, engine in no crate and little oil coming out drain plug.
Numbers on rotors with a marker pen
Front rotor looks to have a tablespoon of oil in the chambers, rear rotors nothing.
All springs bounce back at the touch
Is it a new engine or rebuild?

 

WOW.. I had a brand new 13B Turbo engine in a crate in 1996, I paid $1500 for it from Vidmar Mazda in Pueblo Colorado.

 

sounds a bit fishy to me, especially if this brand new engine is already leaking, albeit small amounts. To it sounds like a rebuild, potentially using mostly new parts, but im always skeptical about NEW 20 year old products such as engines

 

How much is he charging you for the engine? If it's up to a grand, then you should still take it, I mean, it's rebuilt...

 

When i had my 87 i got a new/rebuild motor from my local mazda dealer. I cant rember if it was new or a mazda rebuild but i didnt think mazda rebuilt motors. Regardless on the fron cover there was a big blue metal tag rivited. With build date etc. Like i said stu i cant remebr if it was new or a reman!?!?!?! I heard a little about this motor. If the price is what i was told i dunno if i would jump on it.

There is a guy in the fs section with two new 12a houseings for 500 for the pair!!!! thats a slaming deal when i went to mazda the other day i asked about new ones....i was told there where 8 left in the country all in the TN warehouse and they wanted 567 a piece. I say scrounge some new houseing's and build one!!!!

AND WTF I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER GOTTEN A CRATE MOTOR WITH OIL IN THE PAN!!!!!! I CHANGE AT LEAST TWO MOTORS A MONTH AT FORD AND THIS NEVER EVER HAPPENS!!!!!

 

I agree... Mine had no oil either.

 

Nothing wrong with putting some oil in the motor if it's going to be stored for an extended period of time.....

 

Another reason to be skeptical. If they had paperwork and proof, maybe but otherwise......no

 

Also, the new and rebuilt engines I've bought from the dealership never came with the oil fill tube, distributor, exhuast manifold, pullies, or oil pan. Just food for thought.

 

I thought they stopped making the 12a in 1985?

 

They did but i am sure mazda didnt stop selling remans for ten years after that lol

 

how about assembly lube thats 20years old? black and drained to the lowest point?

 

Did they have compression info for it? Take a couple pics just for grins.

 

it all boils down to how much you are considering paying for the engine and if the guy is offering any kind of man to man guarentee.

 

Nothing.. no pan or pickup tube. Mine came in a crate made from 2x4's, it has Mazda painted in blue on it. The engine was super clean, it had nothing bolted to it, just the bare engine which included the front housing. I wish we had digital cameras back then since I'll never see another brand new Turbo II engine again.

 

mazda rebuilds typically have some stamped numbers around the 12a up top.

 

up to about 97-98 they did that, after 98 they have a blue tag on the front cover, and come with the oil pan, water pump and flywheel

 

Nope. It is a reman. Sucks. Time to return it.

 

Why isnt it new?

 

SA front and rear irons, EGR port on the center iron. SA and FB parts on one motor is not a mistake a factory would make.

 

I guess that explains your other thread.
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/sa-fb-engine-differences-735717/

 

Looking at the pics you sent me, The center iron is the only thing I see that is FB. The front cover, front and rear iron, and the rotor housings are SA.

 

In that other thread it was said 80 12A had the egr port, is that not considered an SA?

And really thats not a mistake an engine builder should make..

 

Even if it was unused, would you trust 20+ year old unused rubber seals? I wouldn't, I'd be rebuilding. Crack it open and look at the housings. That will tell you how well used the engine is.

 

1980 california cars have an EGR valve on top of the centre iron.

if you're talking about the port under the intake ports on the center housing, then thats for the AIR PUMP air NOT egr. the SA's do not use air pump there because they have the thermal reactor.

the other difference is that the flywheel and counterweights are much lighter on an 81-82 motor