I have read many horror stories on this site about engine rebuilds. Is rebuilding a 13b really difficult? I am a novice. I am currently taking an engine systems class, and am learning about rebuilding piston engines. I have an 88 n/a, and I have the engine all ready to pull. I compression checked it and the back rotor had absolutely nothing. Is it easier just to buy a rebuilt engine? If so, where do you guys reccomend? Any help would be appreciated.

 

hey, yeah i think the engine is kinda hard to rebuild! BUT get down to your local auto parts store and get a book called.....like haynes manual...for the 2nd gen RX-7 man, it kicks *** you can rebuild an engine from that book. If you follow that book, should be pretty straight forward. And also in those mechanics classes, i am takin quite a few...and they teach you ALL about the piston engine and about a quater of the class on rotary. But get the manual...it's based on a complete teardown and rebuild

 

I do believe theres a video availible to show you step by step on how to rebuild a 2nd gen 13b motor.
Me and Jordan were thinking of rebuilding my motor to save a couple of $$. Jordan's roommate is a mechanic so he's gonna watch over us since we're both 'amateurs'

 

Get the video from www.atkinsrotary.com

When rebuilding make sure you clean everything real good. The reusable parts should look basically new. If anything measures out of spec trash it or you'll end up rebuilding again in a year or two or at a minimum have an engine that will not run like it should. Buy the complete rebuild kit, almost $1000 but worth it.

 

I don't think rebuilding these engines is hard. No worse than a single cam v-8 anyway, and way easier than anything VTEC or dual overhead cam or that junk.
Ignore the haynes, get an FSM and a atkins or mazdatrix(?) rebuild video.
Sean Cathcart

 

Ok I'm guessing the kit comes with apex seals and some rings, how about the housings?

 

This is what is comes with: plus apex seals

1 GASKET SET
2 ROTOR BEARING
1 FRONT MAIN SEAL
4 INNER OIL O-RING
4 OUTER OIL O-RING
2 MAIN BEARING
1 REAR MAIN SEAL
6 APEX SPRING
12 SIDE SEAL SPRING
12 CORNER SEALS
12 CORNER SEAL SPRING

 

Dude, if you need rotor housings the cost of the rebuild just doubled if not more. Could approach $2000 in parts alone if you bought all new parts.

 

Yep....Housings cost $425 each. A Good rebuild kit is going to cost around $1200.
The video is excellent! I have watched it several times.
If you can rebuild a piston engine, the 13B is cake!

 

If I need new housings (the back rotor has no compression at all) should i just buy a rebuilt motor then?