lamutitsgirl

OK ..Please don't laugh if I sounds like I don't know what I am talking about, cause I don't know much about rotary's and ill admit it, but I am trying to learn.. Just correct me...IM learning

Well, I think my engine has finally gone and running on one rotor I believe... People I have talked to say that I have burnt apex seals, (since my car is oil injected?) One of the lines got plugged and starved a rotor of oil.... It didn't run long like this, but I guess long enough to hurt it.. So I fixed the plugged (oil line)?, and kept driving it. It eventually got so the engine was whining if I put it passed so many rpms.. And slowly it got worse and worse (over 2yrs)..... Just the other day I was driving it and it got to the point where the winning all of sudden started and wouldn't stop..... So I babied it home and parked it......... (what happened?)

Now I must decide what to do with it..... I want to rebuild it, but I do not know how hard it would be or what my best route would be. I am on a budget since I am going to college and all so I cant put to much money into it. I want to make it faster, and I am willing to save up to make it fast if I have to piece by piece.. So I need the cheapest way to do it...... This is what I know about it... Its a 12a, ported and polished (street I think, if it makes a difference), Has a (side draft?) Webber carb, and some kind of manifold (Webber? if they make it?), I got all new suspension.... And other lil things that probably wont make a big difference.. I can probably get the list of things done to it, if it does. But now I am asking everyone's advice about what I should do? cost range? Best way to do it (meaning take it to a shop?, ask another rotor head for help? lol , or teach myself?)? I did put the motor in by myself.. But it was a simple take stuff off the old engine and put on new and put in thing...


SO PLEASE LET ME HAVE IT!! I NEED ADVICE!!!!!!


**ps forgot to say it was a 1983, if it helps**

Rx7carl

Do a compression test first to determine if the engine is indeed running on one rotor. The whinning is probably a belt. Check them to see if one is bad or loose. Whinning is not a symptom of a bad engine.

IanS

iTrader: (4)

I am thinking that a rebuild kit runs roughly 800 ish and you could most likely do it all yourself. It is simply take it apart, put new stuff on, put back together. BASICALLY. I think you could do it, might take some time though but you can do it.

lamutitsgirl

Yes I checked all belts.. That was my first impression of what it could be.... I have even let people listen and there is no where outside of the engine that it could be coming from.. It is a obvious (sp) engine noise... Which is weird to me.. But ok.....

I am so scard to do an engine rebuild, but I think I could do it... I might be on the forums alot asking advise on how to do things..... I have never worked on a rotary before ... Only piston ran engines... Is it the same concept?

lamutitsgirl

Is this process difficult? What do I need?

Hades12

Where are you at in Washington? there are lots of Rotorheads out there that I am sure would be happy to help you. and I think Atkins rotory is out there, if needed you could get an engine or rebuild from them. cost is about 1800 - 2500 or so.

Any engine Pics?

Your whining really sounds like a fan belt, and is a very normal problem once the Air pump has been removed for the aftermarket intake and Carb.

On the oil injection. The car does indeed use a little oil. But having the line plugged for a short time would not have hurt it. People have posted that they went 1000's of miles with a bad line.

Generally the Apex seals will fail in one of two ways, Stick in the Grove so the engine has no compression, Or break into peices that cause a real mess and then have no Compression.

The cheep way to check for compression is to pull one spark plug and then turn the engine over. you should hear 3 good whooshs. I stick me finger over the hole and feel for pressure.

Hades12

Same concept, Differnt parts.

Concept. You take out bolts, pull things appart throw away the bad stuff and replace, then put it back together.


Does it only make the noise when moving or anytime? Maybe more from the Trans? Maybe a Throw out bearing?

lamutitsgirl

Good point there... But If I am thinking right I have( very little compression).. I think.. Well it wont pull hills worth a darn right now.. If that helps any.... And yes I can take pictures of the engine for you guys it may take a hour or two,,, but I can.. It will be from a picture phone.. NOt very quality but should work!


Also someone has said something about putting two cycle oil into the gas, ever heard of it? Does it hurt the engine?

Hades12

Sounds Like you may have lost one seal. When my last engine went it was very noticeable, the engine almost hopped around. The compression test will tell you.


I use Two Cycle in my car. 1oz to 1 gallon. It does the same as the oil injection there is just no way for it to fail. But it stinks if you get to much and is a pain in the *** to put it in at every fill up. Fun to see people react when you are adding it.

Hades12

Oh yea. How many miles on the Engine?

lamutitsgirl

On the new one I got 2 yrs ago about 10000 I would assume.... It wasn't driven that much......

Ill take pictures when I wake up, off to bed for me 7 am.... here I work grave yard so I am tired..... I am appreciating everyones opinions!

RotaryAXer

iTrader: (4)

I'm not sure but the whining sounds like belts or what happened in my case is the bearings in the Alternator are shot. Sounded just like a slipping belt but it isn't. You can hear the bearings grind when the alternator is turned by hand.

The not pulling hills strong though sounds like something worse. Could an apex seal just be stuck and the engine needs to be decarbonized?

See other posts on procedure for that.

lamutitsgirl

*BUMP* is this all the advice I get?... Thanks to everyone who responded!!!!

Kentetsu

To positively identify where the noise is originating, try this. Take a length of hose (doesn't matter much what kind or how long it is), place one end to you ear and use the other end to listen around the engine. It's basically a poor man's stethoscope, but it works great. If there is a bad bearing in your alternator, you will be able to tell easily. It also helps identify internal engine noises too. Give it a shot....

Slammed_GSL

iTrader: (14)

Try removing on spark plug from each housing (One rotor, per turnover) remove the coil wires and turn the key. You should hear equal "phsss, phsss, phsss" if you hear "Phsss, phsss, ........Phsss" then you threw a seal and a rebuild is a must.
I live in Carnation, let me know and if you are close I can stop by.

CODE BLUE 2

Hey,
I think there are a few of the guys that might be willing to help. Cheapest way...."rebuild" yourself. I will ask around for you and see if I can find someone that can do this for you "If it needs an engine rebuild". Theres a few people not on the forum that do rebuild at home for cheap. Would be nice if you were more involved with the regulars in the NW. A lot of the guys will go out of their way to help a friend. I think a few are not speaking up in the NW section cause they have been taken advantage of is all...I'll ask around for ya and PM you.