Hi, I'm a n00b here and kinda to RX-7's. I am hoping to buy an 82 with a dead engine pretty soon, so I am looking for a replacment, and was wondering if you had any reccomendations on sites or places I could find them (I'm in Dallas if anyone knows any places around here?).

Anyone have any gides to swapping engines?

Does it matter what year the enigne is?

Can a decently mechanical kid and a few of his mechanically inclined friends (im quite confident of their skills, though they are more into the rebuilding of the V8 grunt, they can still help) do the swap easily?

Any other advice to a n00b would be great, thanks!

 

Engine's all the same. If you've pulled any engine before, this is no different. Ar a bonus, it's small, light, and easy to work around. The only thing I see really being a pain in the *** is the hood.. and that's just 4 bolts.

Once you have it outta the car, the next engine goes in the exact same.

How close are you to Garland? (I dunno the Dallas/Ft.Worth Area... Never been to Texas) Hook up with Rotary Performance. ( www.rx7.com ) They can offer advice, or rebuild your old engine. Nice guys over the phone too. It'll be expensive, but you'll know you've got a fresh engine instead of some junk yard mystery under the hood and you can get the engine ported.

For a rotary newbie, I reccomend this link:

http://members.home.com/sofronov/Cars/Mazda/Rotary.html

Explains porting and the rotary engine well.

 

Thanks for the advice, I've heard of rotary performance before, though since I am only spending $500 on the car, and I'm broke as a joke, I think I will end up getting something along the lines of cheap. Maybe this summer after I have enough money saved, I'll go with a rebuild from them.

I've seen that site around here while lurking, neet info about ports.

 

actually its easier NOT to take the hood off. you can wheel the hoist up from the side. as far as used engines go, you need to be careful they are so old you need to make sure its good before you throw it in the car

mike

 

Anyone?

 

Main concern as of yet is getting a new engine, if you have any good sources or leads please do tell, thanks .

 

For $500, the scrapper's your best bet.

If they don't core ya, Keep the old engine around for when you do get cash. Might be salvageable.

 

Puchased mine from a local wrecking yard.Its a '81 12A for $550.They
gave me 90 days to make sure it started up and didn't smoke .Took me
about 80 days to do the job ,but mine went into a VW bug so a lot of
fabbing.I'm in Northwest Oregon,but should be some place you can get
a used engine.You'll have bad gas problems,maybe a carb overhaul the
usual for any engine sitting around.Make sure the oil cooler is still attached.My engine runs great,I put a Yaw carb on it and a custom
stainless exhaust.I did do the ATF treatment and I've had it once around
the block.Runs great just needs a little fine tuning.Keep looking you'll
find something cheap.

 

The import yard that I go to will not sell me a complete rotary motor. There is a dead 13b from an 87 that I want, but he refuses to sell the motor. I told him I'm going to tear it down and he still won't do it. I'll go back amd make him an offer on the whole car.

 

Wankle bug, how much did it cost you to do the swap? I have a buddy in corvalis, who was thinking about doing it to his own. CJ

 

Winnipeg 85GSL has been trying to sell his 12A forever....

 

yes, yes i have.

 

Winnipeg, I have been waiting for you to send me your Info, I would have cut you a check on the 14th had you e-mailed me. Check your e-mail, the other threads and get back to me, later.

 

I emailed you yesterday.