Let me start off by saying I'm a computer nerd, delving into the unknown world of cars here. Please be patient with my noobness.

I have purchased a '90 convertible with a possibly seized engine due to a coolant breach. Miles on engine are unknown, because there's no way for me to know if it is the original in there right now. Or is there? Car has 215,000 miles. I understand that when I take the engine apart it may just not be a good candidate for a rebuild. I expect the worst.

I have located a complete 89 N/A engine with compression problems and 128,000 miles for $260. Is this a good deal? I've poked around looking for complete s5 engines but it seems to be a rare thing. Or I'm looking in the wrong places. I contacted a local rotary shop for rebuild prices. They said 3,000 so I guess I'm doing it myself. Should I take my engine out first before I decide to purchase another, or is that engine I found such a rare thing, I should jump on it. What would be the best course of action here?

 

The only way of knowing whether your engine is rebuildable or not, is to remove it and disassemble it. You'll need to check parts for specs, any damage, flaking, normal vs abnormal wear, etc...

$260 for a S5 N/A short block is a pretty decent deal, but seems as though it may require a rebuild.

Here is the '89 Factory Service Manual. <- This will be a big help.

Here's another good site when checking engine specs. -> Criteria For Replacement of Rotary Engine Parts (It will give you a good idea of what you'll be looking at.)

 

I would get the other engine just for the spare parts, but $100 sounds more like it.

 

Dwb, thank you for the reference material. They will be of great value. Rob, it is priced from a junkyard. I dont think they barter on price do they?

Next step is locate an engine picker...

 

@rico harbor freight will be your friend for the engine picker and stand.

 

No, there isn't.
Expecting the worst is good practice but your next sentence...

...contradicts yourself. Why would you not "expect the worst" from the new engine also?
@$3k is a reasonable figure to work with, falls right into the range I've been anticipating.
Although "fewer moving parts" has always been touted as a benefit of the rotary engine, there is a downside to this in that it's more likely that the same part that failed in your engine has also failed in the replacement. Fewer parts, fewer options, it cuts both ways.
I wouldn't buy anything till I knew what was really wrong.

 

series 5 n/a engines are a bit tougher to come by, i'd snag one up for $250. disregard the cheap asses who wouldn't pay more than that as a single rotor and housing is easily worth that much and sounds like you will need at least that to replace the boat anchor that is in the car(water sitting in the engine will destroy it).

the longer you sit on the fence about the spare motor the less likely it will be there when you go back.

 

Clokker i want to thank you for spending some time answering my questions. Everyone here has been a big help. The engine i found is at mazda heaven. They said it ran fine but a compression test revealed it to be on its way out. So i dont expect it to full of liquid like mine right now. But who knows, right?

 

RotaryEvolution, I'm kinda thinking the same thing. If i dont use it i can always sell it here to some chap in the same boat.

 

Yea best bet is to tear the engine down asap. Salvage whatever you can and then make a decision on whether or not to buy another motor that doesn't work lol.

 

Word. Bought my engine stand saturday. Gonna remove motor soon.

 

My buddys got a hoist. Planning on friday or saturday for removal.