I was wondering if anyone has actually done it themselves and what the round about cost is.. I have a video and thinking about oding it, but if the price isnt that much different than going over to New Orleans and getting it done, I might save myself the trouble. Also was wondering if an engine stand is A must? Could you just get a bunch of pillows or an old mattress and rest it on that with support beams on the side to keep it upright?


Also, my car is an 88 AE with 157K miles on the original engine. It was runing flawlessly but now the engine is flooding and I can't start it once it shuts off until the engine is completely cooled. Do you guys think I should go ahead and overhaul it since it has that problem, or should I just do some type of quickfix since it rides fine? Starts right up, runs without any signs of problems..

Anyhow, any information would be great.

 

I just finished rebuilding my motor myself and I'd have to say that there is no way that I could have done it without an engine stand.
If the motor is just flooding then why do you want to rebuild it? Finding out why it's flooding and fixing it is going to be a lot cheaper and easier. Do a search on this forum for lots of tips with flooding problems. My personal recommendation is to send your fuel injectors off to be cleaned. Leaking injectors can cause some real nasty flooding.
-John
www.TwistedRotors.com

 

DO NOT REBUILD IT, unless ur rich and bored. Just fix the problem.

(Edit...Remove attempted copyright violation)

 

Hmmmmmmm... when it does start... take a good whiff of yer exhaust... does it smell a bit sweet like anitfreeze?????????

Dis-assembly can be done without an engine stand...A However... I wouldn't want to try putting it back together without one AND the adapter.. no way.

 

Why are you all giving this guy **** about rebuilding? You do know that flooding, 75% of the time, is a low compression issue, right? I have had engines that flooded, had the injectors cleaned, they still flooded. Had engines that flooded, rebuilt the engine, reused original injectors, and after breakin, low and behold they stopped flooding (when compression came up enough).

For a one time thing, you can build an engine with a 5 gallon bucket. I've even done it on a large workbench before. A stand with rotating head makes it easier, but if you can keep all the parts in place without anything moving, you can build an engine just about anywhere...

Who in new orleans builds engines? Surely not that dirty south rotary ripoff place?

 

I am not sure who it is.. But I was told there was a specialist in new orleans. Thing about the stand is, I only going to rebuild it once (hopefully) and dont have the cash to dump ina stand I don't need after this project.

Twisted: Why you say rotary ripoff place? Got any feedback I should know about before i ask them?

 

Hell, I just built mine up on a 3/4" piece of plywood with no probs...go for it...only thing I missed having were a parts washer and an engine equalizer for the chain hoist...

 

When you get their quote give me a call, my bet is that I can beat their price and their service.

That ripoff guy is in texas, I believe. Didn't know if that's the new guy you were talking about or not. Do a forum search for dirty south rotary. About 4 complaintants so far.

 

Well now my car seems to be misfiring and over heating.. I think it is misfiring because when I am around 2500 rpm it shakes really rough and then is fine once it is past 3000rpm... It is running hot when driving, but when idle it gets really cool.... So I am totally confused about whats going on....

RotaryRes, how much you charge for an engine rebuild? I might go see ya if it isnt out of my price range.

 

Depends on year/model and condition. Between $1000 and $1300 base price for 2gen engines, plus porting, shipping, options, internal damage, installation, etc. You can usually get a shortblock, shipped round trip, for around 1400 (stock).

You do know that a rebuild won't fix misfiring/hesitation (unless as a result of blown seals, low compression, etc.) nor cooling issues (unless as a result of coolant seal failure).

 

I will attest to that. Ive seen pictures of someone rebuilding one in their basement on a ghetto coffee table.

Kevin is probably one of the least expensive guys out there and seems to put out good motors. Ive talked to numerous dudes running engines from him.

 

BTW: I have seen rotary stand heads on ebay for $35... that's less than the price of a couple of tha gaskets...

But I recommend Kevin as well, and am considering using him for my next rebuild instead of doing it myself (and I have rebuilt 4 now).

 

My engine was tore down on my workbench, and re-assembled on 5 gallon buckets. I stacked three of them inside of each other (for strength), and it held the engine perfectly fine for three months or so while the engine was sitting on it (while I finished bodywork). If you choose to do it yourself, do what I did (And I'm sure everyone except those guys who do this every day do), when you take something off, put the screws in a ziplock bag labed what part it came off of. it takes about 20 minutes extra during dissassembly, but it will save you a WORLD of trouble. I did that for my entire engine bay, and damn did it help my examples were bags labeled "Drivers Side: Firewall Back" "Radiator & Forward" "Engine and Exhaust Mounts" "tranny to engine" etc, etc, etc.

And for whoever it was that asked, you can buy that video online at places like Atkinsrotary.com and Rotaryaviation.com. If you do like I did for my rebuild: get the video on VCD (it comes on CD), and load up the laptop down in the shop, and watch the video while you play along at home.

 

Excellent advice. That goes for any time you're removing lots of screws, such as taking off the dash. I had a friend who removed the dash on his '89 Mustang to replace the heater core (thanks to the genius of Fords engineers) and ended up with 3 extra screws, and thats never a good thing.

 

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

rich my ****. Its cheaper than you think!

Bored - ataining the skill and knowledge is worth it in time alone.

Want the video, buy it. People invested hard earned $$ producing the video, don't rip them off by copying. I have rebuilt 100's of motors, yet I chose to buy one just to see if I missed any tricks or processes. I watched it with my 17 year old, he proceeded to rebuild his motor with me only watching over him. It was a pleasurable experience that was possible only becasue he watched the video eventhough he had seen me do many live.

Also for those worring about doing it on a bucket, I am sure that everyone on this board has access to a fabricator wannabe. Go scavange a piece of tube and a heavy hunk of angle and throw to simple welds on it. then drill two holes - and - you have a head for an engine stand. I have 9 or 10 I ahve built laying around the garage. not one took more than 30 minutes and 5.00 in scrap steel.

 

I'm sure i could have fabbed something to attach it TO an engine stand.. the problem was having an engine stand at the time.. The end of the fall semester was not a good time to pony up the cash for unnecissary things such as engine stands. There was important things to buy, like two piece apex seals and sealkits, etc!

 

Cool, so you would fall into the "not worried about doing on a bucket" catagory.

For a real cheap and good deal on engine stands, go to harborfreight.com I think shipping is free after 50.00 in purchases. I have bought the cheapo one and it works well.

 

Well, it looks like I will be doing this myself most likely. Whats the best site for rebuild kits.. I was looking at FC3S.org and they have a nice kit, but not too sure if that is a standard price or not.

 

several are good, Atkins rotary, rotary aviation are two.