josh...just josh

my 88' T2 is down for the count right now and I'm confused with what to do with it. I bought it with 115k and a blown engine and after tearing it down I learned that a coolant seal had failed (all the o-ring grooves look fine) and that the engine had been rebuilt (FD corner springs). After cleaning it up I found some grooves in the irons, big enough that I can catch my fingernail in them in places. So the irons need to be lapped. Since i dont know a whole lot about rotaries I thought I would just put a 5.0 in the car and be done with it, but after researching it I found it to be a lot of work for not much more power, and a weak transmission.
Which brings me back to the rotary. the housings, rotors, and seals all look fine (not sure though but best i can tell) so If I fix the irons i think I'll have a decent engine. I have two questions really. The first is where can I have my irons lapped? (I dont think that this is cost effective, shipping would hurt) or what on average would I expect to pay for a decent set of irons? My second question is if I stay within stock turbo hp, use a bigger fuel pump, rtek ecu, bigger injectors etc. what honest reliability can I expect? All these what blew your engine threads scare me. thanks

TehMonkay

iTrader: (-1)

How many blown engine threads out of how many cars, almost all of which have been reamed on?

I've seen far more 240s with blown KAs than RX-7s listed up for sale.

If you're afraid go buy another car, if this decision is too hard you'll probably end up blowing the engine out of carelessness.

Nonetheless, you'll need to see if they can be lapped, they can only be lapped so much.

If i'm not mistaken, all you have to do is put them on the correct lathe, any machine shop should be able to do it, but i've not actually researched it more than the thought of it being in my head.

Build your engine right, tune it and mod it correctly, it wont just blow on you for no reason some day.

iceblue

I may get in trouble but I don't exactly know everyones prices lol.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ogID=214930489

josh...just josh

$4,000? I can rebuild the engine myself, I just wanted to know approx. what irons would run. I'm thinking 5.0 it is....

white_charisma

put a 5.0 in that car and you wont have an rx-7 anymore, simply a sorry half assed excuse for a sports car

pfsantos

iTrader: (1)

Do what you want, but don't judge the rotary by whatever was done to that poor engine or how it was rebuilt. There must be some shop nearby with decent reputation on rotaries. Have them look at the housings and go from there. If there's no shop, there should be at least a decent machine shop to check specs. and wear. See the section on checking engine wear in chapter 2 (engine) of the FSM (check my sig., go from there).

You can always put in a 5.0L, but the road won't be any easier.

rx-7 obsessed

^^^ BINGO***** WE HAVE A WINNER. thats y we buy these cars is to be different. i dont mean to be a flaming HOMO but seriously man. you bought an RX7 because it has a rotary engian learn about it. read. there is alot of good info on this website. read all 976 pages of the first gen section. those guys have been around longer then the cars have they know everything there is to know. u put a v8 in that car its not an rx7 its a FAT PIG MUSTANG. theres a difference we like the small motor because u can get the same power but its a quarter of the size. just read. i own 3 rx7's i have spent more then 7 grand on them. only one runs....sometimes. its the joy its the fun of loving the rotary. its the smoothness of it. its the fun of roasting a v8 with a 1.3 liter motor. you could turn around and SMOKE that 5.0 no problem. i mean come on. wait around for a while for an rx7 to show up thats totaled with a good motor. dont waste an rx7 with a 5.0 sell it to someone who will keep the engian alive. thats the problem our cars are dieing because people buy them and dont know **** aboutthem. they blow up and then they get crushed. SAVE THE ROTARY. just read a little there is alot of info on here. a v8 in an rx7 is like a rotary in a 350Z it both has been done. the difference the rx7 lost its handeling because the stock suspension cannt take it. and the 350z became alot more fun

yours truely
RX-7 OBSESSED

micah

So, it sounds like you've already made up your mind......

However... getting your irons lapped is a stupid choice if you are on a budget. Just go get yourself a set of good-used housings from the forum or a local member. It'll cost you less and you'll be good to go.

Rebuilding a rotary has got to be easier than swapping in a v8 and probably a ton cheaper.

Snack

+1 on getting new irons and putting back together or just buy another motor and rebuild. We just bought a t2 motor for 900$ great compression.

Michael Knight

iTrader: (1)

Do an ls1 instead of a 5.0. It makes the fr./rear weight ratios better.

micah

^^ <sarcasm>Yeah. THAT'll be cheaper than new irons......</sarcasm>

RETed

If you're not looking at seriously increasing performance, go ahead and resuse those housings.
Unless we're talking grooves where ground hogs could make a home, even small grooves that still manage to catch your nail is okay to reuse.


-Ted

HOZZMANRX7

iTrader: (43)

My signature says it all on this subject.

rx-7 obsessed

^^^^ haha so true

helghast7

iTrader: (6)

i think im going to cry....amen brother amen.....seriously though have fun with the engine you have....they surprise the **** out of EVERYONE....that lancer never knew what hit him....(lol what a dumbass....see what happens when you run your mouth??). whever I drive all these dumbass ricers always try to pick a fight, because(lets be honest guys) the car looks dated, and so they assum that its weak. we are the true original "sleepers" were the ones that can go to the track having people think were definetly going to lose to the crowd favorite(most likely a honda) and then kick its *** by like 5 car lengths(i have video similar to that). so respect your engine

you know the saying....big things come in small packages!!

iceblue

Must of been absent for reading class ....?
Iron grinding + sanding + ultrasonic cleaning $500

TehMonkay

iTrader: (-1)

I have a few irons lying around. I know a couple of people with irons laying around, search locally, make friends.

josh...just josh

i did seriously consider that, but it seems to me that as those grooves wear more the corner seal is going to fall out of the rotor and do a lot of damage. I might still though, The thing is the 5.0 doesn't really weigh all that much more than a 13bt fully dressed. It would probably be cheaper to rebuild the rotary (unless I sell off all of my T2 stuff...) and the 13b can make power cheaper (it takes heads to make any real power with a 5.0, $1300+) but reliability scares me,. I've had rx7s, I know about the quarks. I do like the engine but thats not why I bought the car. It's a really good looking car with good suspension, good brakes, good stiff chassis, and it's honestly one of the best, lightweight RWD chassis out there. I'm not really really sure what I'm going to do I guess

arghx

iTrader: (3)

rebuilt motor with stock ports, full 3 inch exhaust, stock turbo with ported wastegate, 720 secondary injectors, rtek chip. spray the stock intercooler with something to prevent heatsoak. mid 13's at 103+ all day long and no chance of popping the motor if you put a wideband on there and keep it tuned properly. 220-230whp, 2800lbs or less. you will pull stock 350Z's and stock Mustang GT's, even an Evo or STi from a roll

REHarrison

Ls1 conversions are the worses things someone can do to an rx7 IMO!