what makes a rotor housing un usable ?
 

i have a couple rotor housings sitting around collecting dust , i was wondering since they have a few flakes of chrome missing would it be unwise to re commision them in a daily driver car ? i will get pictures when i get batteries for my camera . untill then what is everyouns past experience with these parts ? how much flaking can they take ?
ps.. it is just alon the edge on one side .

I think a little flaking on the edge is usable and normal. This edge wear is caused by the small apex seal end piece. I have replaced a housing when the flaking was in the middle of the housing (inch long pieces) and it looks much worse than just on the edge.

Chrome flaking, gouges from the triangles at the edge of the housing and chatter marks. Those are the basics to look for and avoid. I won't reuse a housing if the edge gouge is more than 1/16th, maybe 3/32nds of an inch, and won't reuse any housing that does have edge gouges without the customer's permission. Housings with chrome flaking and chatter marks are fish tank material.

I've seen a beautiful set of 13B housings that at first glance would be ideal for a rebuild, until I ran my fingernail across them and felt the washboard texture left from over reving.

Really all depends. For a DD I've seen up to 1/8th of an inch used and the motors are still running strong two years later. Lets see some pics of the housings before we jump to conclusions.

1/8!!! Are we talking about length or depth? Depth wise 1/8 is like the grand canyon to your apex seals.

dont mind the spots , that is just dirt...
this is one housing
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...617_135827.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...617_135811.jpg
here is the other one ... the worst one
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...617_135753.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...617_135742.jpg

Personally I wouldnt use it, any flaking is a no no to me. Also, try laying it on something black, the silver is reflecting on the housing and throwing me off lol.

I wouldn't use it on a 'good' rebuild. If I was tossing an engine together with used seals and not expecting it to last more than 5k until I could find better parts and new seals for a long term engine, then I might use that housing. If this will be your 1st rebuild, then it could be used as a test engine, but I wouldn't buy anything more than a gasket kit for it.

excellent . thank you guys for your opinions . this will be my first re build and i am unsure of my abilities with these motors . so i might use it as a 'test' .
from what i understand , the chipping is caused by the small part of the apex seal ? is there any way to prevent that ?
i will get some darker pictures.