hey, i have yet another question for you...how hard is it to port your own engine? anyone out there done it? ive noticed quite a few places sell templates to do it, and ive taken machine shop a couple times so its not like i have no clue what im doing..., but i was just wondering how hard it really is? should i just fork out the money and have it done by a shop?

 

Do you know anything about rotary engines? If not, pay to have it done, as it requires a rebuild to do.

 

Then again, if you are like me and want to learn what better way than getting your fingernails greasy? If you were really worried about screwing something up then you could do the rebuild yourself and source out the porting of your housings to a reputable engine builder.

Just my $.02

 

Is it totally neccessary to do a total rebuild?

I was under the impression that you could just replace the O-rings/seals and not the Apex Seals/Springs, thus not having to buy hundereds in parts...

 

the mazda factory service manual has a section on measureing your apex seals for wear so I am guessing that they do not HAVE to be replaced. I have been told by those knowledgeable that the fel-pro kit without the apex seals is sufficient for a rebuild and that is what I plan to use. as my motor had excellent compression before I tore it apart(went water pumper on me)

So i guess the answer to your qeustion is, no, you do not neccesarily need new apex seals.

 

Sure, That's how I did mine... I bought a '84-85 engine that I'd never heard run and had the notorious dowel O-ring leaks, which *require* engine disassembly to fix. So, seeings as that either way it would have to come apart, I pulled it apart, found the housings to look in perfect condition, apex seals same, and only a little wear on the side housings. So I ported it and put it back together! I probably spent three times as much time holding a scrub brush and a micrometer and feeler gauges than I spent holding a Dremel or my die grinder... if you work with marginal parts, you'll end up with marginal results.

Porting isn't just hogging it out... you can lose a lot of power that way... if you plan on doing it, first read the technical articles at personal.riverusers.com/~yawpower so you at least know what you're getting in to. Also, read up as much as possible on engine porting, there's a lot more info out there for boingers than there is for rotaries but most of the same principles apply, the difference is our runners don't end in (or start with) a great big flow restriction.